HISTORY 



OF THE 



78TH REGIMENT 0. Y. Y. L, 



FROM 



ITS ''M[JST£R-m" TO ITS " MUSTER-OUT;'' 



COMPRISING 



ITS ORGANIZATION, MARCHES, CAMPAIGNS, 
BATTLES AND SKIRMISHES. 



BY REV. THOMAS M. STEVENSON, 

CHAPLAIX OF THE REGIMENT. 



(SOLD ONLY BY hUBSCEIPTION.) 



ZANESYILLE,OHIO: 
PUBLISHED BY HUGH DUNNE, 

SORTH-FOCliTH STREET. ADJOINING TQK COCET H0B3B. 

1865. 






Entered according to Act of Congreps, in the year 1865, ly 

HUGH DUNNE, PUBLISHER, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United State", for the Southern Djstsipt 

of Ohio. 



3f /^ ^ 



; 









\ 

Pkixted by Logan & DodDj 
Zanesville, 0. 



HON. CHARLES W. POTWTN 

WHOSE PATUIOTIC DEVOTION TO THE 
INTERESTS OF OUR SOLDIERS 

WAS CONSPICUOUS DURING THE WAFi — 

WHOSE TIMELY BEXEV(JiLEXCE 

RELIEVED FROM WANT THE FAMILIES 

OF MANY OP TIIE 

** S E V E N T Y - E I G II T II OHIO," 

THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. 



TO THE READER. 



In introducing this Book to tlie reader, we do not propose 
to present a history of tlie slave-holders' war and suppression 
of the Great Rebellion, hut a minute and unvarnished narra- 
tion of the battles and campaigns of the Seventy-Eighth 
Regiment of Onio Volunteers. No body of men in the 
ser\dce have taken part in a greater number of skirmishes 
and battles — traveled over more territory, and participated 
in more iiuportant campaigns. 

It has for nearly four ye^rs been constantly in tlie front, and 
during the summer's heat and winter's cold li-as been actively 
engaged. Its heaviest and most important marches ha\e 
been performed during the winter months ; through a conn- 
try thought by rebels impriicticable for active operations. 
The leaders of the enemy were confident of victory, believ- 
ing that the army of General Sherman must, sooner or later, 
be utterly destroyed in the rivers and swamps of a country 
through which the inhabitants could scarcely pass in times 
oi peace. 



VI TO THE READER. 

Tlic Regiment lias passed through nearly every State of 
tiie W(>ii]d-])e Contbderacy, going in at Paducah, Ky., march- 
nig neai'ly all the way to Grand Gulf and Viekshurg; 
]:assing tlircmgh Tennessee, IVIississippi, Louisiana, Alabama,. 
Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia. 

A history of tliese long wearisome marches and their 
battles, will certainly be of interest not only to the brave 
soldiers of the Kegiment, but to every true patriot interested 
ill tbc welfare of the Federal Arm}-. 

]S'e\-er in the liistor}' of the world, did an enemy fight with 
more obstinate determination than the rebel army. The 
wli(~)le power of church and State combined stretched every 
nerve and sinew of war to their utmost tension, to accom- 
]ilisli their vile and aml)itious pur})Ose — ^tlie establishment 
of a Confederacy whose corner-stone should be slavery. 
For the attainment of this object every species of misrepre- 
sentation, falsehood and fraud, were resorted to, to arouse 
the i)assions of the Southern people against the K'orth and 
noithern institutions. 

With the details of this volume the soldiers of the Seventy- 
Eightli Regiment are familiar. It has been, therefore, 
written as a text book to guide you in your conversation 
Anth families and friends of the honored dead; and will be 
a reminder of what you have done in vindicating and 
upholding the liberties of your country — the hardships and 
](rivations you have endured, the sacrifices yon have made 
for the Union. It has been published in a durable form, 
that you may preserve it for your children, that they may 
read what their fathers have done in suppressuig a Eebellioii 
which lias created a new era in the history of this &rcat 
McvvJMq. 



TO TUE READER. \ai 

cSucli a record is j ustly due tlic brave men of the Seventy- 
Eighth, to whom this work is dedicated. Let the father, 
(hiriiio; the long winter evenings, gather around him his 
children, the son his parents and sisters, and read it chapter 
])y chapter, and tell them what part he took, and his position 
. in every battle. 

The facts and events here recorded will furnish material 
for many an evening's conversation, and pleasant recol- 
lections. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 

OF OHIO INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. 



lu tlie autumn of 1861 the rebellion began to assume sueli 
a magnitucle, arid degree of earnestness of purpose with the 
people of the South, that it behooved the friends of the tTnion 
to make greater cflbrts than they had hitherto made to re- 
cruit and reinforce the army, now insutHcicnt in numbers and 
discipline to protect the borders and defend the ^Tational 
Capital. The rebel armies had possession of almost every 
slave State, arid were contending with alternate success for 
Missouri and Kentucky. In the East the enemy was 
entrenched within cannon range of Washington City. 

Darkness enveloped the nation. The nation's life was in 
imminent danger. The bugle gave the alarm to all parts 
of the country, that all would soon be lost unless the people 
would, with one accord, rally round the standard of the 
Union. Many had already responded to their country's 
call, and were bravely and nobly holding the enemy in 
check, but must soon be overwhelmed unless reinforced by 
the strong and patriotic men who, as yet, seemed not to 
realize the peril of the nation. 

The response to the earnest and loud call of tlio nation 
was soon made. Men left the plow, the workshop, the desk 
and the pulpit, determined not only to drive back the 
enemy, but to push the war into the very heart of rebel dom, 
that the rebels who had instituted the war might see its 
desolations and feel its terrible and frightful consequences. 



10 UISTORY OF THE 

^I. T>. Leggett, then Superintendent of tlie Public Scliools 
of tlie City of Zanesville, felt that it ^xna Lis duty to abandon 
])is high position of usefulness and go in defense of the flag 
of his country. He made an appeal to others in whose 
])atriotisni he had confidence, and who occupied positions 
similar to his own, but who had not, as yet, the most remote 
idea of engaging in the jjloody conflict then going on in the 
nation. ^lany come forth at once in response to the appeal 
of Lt. Colonel Leggett, and encouraged him in his efibrts to 
oulist men for the Avar, It was proposed to raise a regiment, 
jind tliat M, D. Leggett take the lead, many promising to 
engage in the work under his superintendence. He was 
conmiissioned Lieutenant-Colonel by Governor Tod, and 
iiuthorized to raise a regiment to be known as the Seventy- 

ElGHTH KeGIMEXT OF OniO YOLUXTEER IXFAXTRY. He at 

once selected his men to superintend the raising of compa- 
nies in the counties of IMuskingum, Morgan, Guernsey, ISTo- 
ble, ^Monroe, Belmont and Columbiana. Recruiters for other 
regiments ^vere already at work in this field, and putting 
forth tlieir hest efibrts to fill up regiments not yet complete. 
C(3lonel Leggett ^'isited all the important places in these 
counties, and by his earnest and eloquent appeals to the 
])atriotism of the people, aroused them to a sense of their 
<luty to their bleeding country. Strong, yoimg and intelli- 
gent men were induced to leave all, and fly to their country's 
rescue. 

Tlie regiment rendezvoused in Camp Gilbert, near West 
Zanesville, and on the lltli of January, 18G2, was organized 
and reported ready for the field. It mustered nine hundred 
and forty men. ]Sro other regiment excelled it in intelligence 
and high-toned morality. It had, perhaps, more professors 
of religion than any other regiment recruited in the State. 
Genuine patriotism inspired every heart. 

It sustained its high Christian character in all the battles, 
marches and campaigns in which it was engaged during 
nearly four years of service. It has for the first time to be 
driven back, or stirprised and panic-stricken by the enemy ; 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. Y. Y. I. 11 

it never disgraced in tlic field or in camp its commander, by 
cowardice or outrage. 

Xo regiment lias a purer record. In discipline it was 
tliorougli and complete ; quick to destroy when ordered, and 
ready to let alone and spare the enemy when destruction 
and slaughter were useless. Under the conmiand of Colonel 
]\r. D. Leggett the regiment left the State, and arrived at 
Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 15th, 18G2, Avhile that des- 
])erate battle was in progress. It took an active part in all the 
bloody battles in the West under General Grant, and after- 
wards, General Sherman. First Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, 
thence it marched to Jackson, Tennessee, thence to Bolivar, 
Grand Junction and LaGrange, where, with the Twentieth 
and Sixty-Eighth Ohio regiments, it was in the field daily, 
])reaking up rebel encampments and harassing the enemy 
between Bolivar, Tenn., and luka. Miss. 

It commenced the winter campaign under General Grant 
into the interior of Mississippi, and returned after a march 
of two hundred miles to Grand Junction. Thence it marched 
t(^ ]\Iemphis and Vicksburg, and took an active part in run- 
ning the transports past the rcl>el l)atteries, during the cover 
of night, which solved the difiicult problem of the capture 
of that city. 

It crossed the Mississippi River l)elow Grand Gulf and did 
its full share of fighting in the battles of Port Gibson, Kay- 
niond, Jackson, Champion's Ilill, Black Eiver, and Siege of 
A'icksburg. After the surrender of Vicksburg, it made an 
important campaign under General Sherman to Clinton and 
Jackson ; and a second campaign to Monroe, La. 

February 1st, 1864, it connnenced the long and most 
destructive cailipaign of the war, through Central Mississippi 
to its extreme eastern boundary. 

The 20th of March, 1864, the regiment started from 
Vicksburg for home, on veteran furlough. May 7th it left 
Columbus, Ohio, for Georgia, marching from Clifton, Tenn., 
to Rome, Ga., via Iluntsville, Ala.; thence to Big Shanty, 
where it took an important part in all the bloody conflicts of 



12 HISTORY OP THE 

the Atlanta campaign. Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack, 
Chattaliooche, Jonesboro, and Lovejoy are all grave-yards 
of its heroic dead. 

After three weeks rest it started on the campaign into 
Northern Alabama, in pursuit of the rebel army under the 
command of General Hood. It soon returned to Atlanta, 
where it was partly supphed with clothing, and on the 13th 
day of Js'ovember, 1864, entered on the greatest campaign 
on record, through Central Georgia to Savannah, thence to 
Beaufort, South Carolina, Pocotaligo, Columbia, Bennetts- 
ville, Washington City, and Louisville, Ky.; in all more than 
four thousand miles the regiment traveled on foot, three 
tliousand by railroad, and twenty-six hundred by water; 
making a* total of nine thousand six hundred miles. 

The loss of th3 regiment was ninety killed in battle, two 
hundred wounded, thirty missing in action, two hundred 
and twenty-five died of disease, two hundred and ninety-five 
discharged for disability, seventy deserted, and thirty-one 
transferred to Invalid Corps. 



SECOND BRIGADE, THIRD DmSIOX, SEVEK- 
TEE]^TH ARMY CORPS. 

■VTHAT THEY HAVE DONE, AND WHERE THEY CAME FROM -HISTORY OF THE 
SECOND BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS. 

This brigade was organized at Bolivar, Tennessee, in the 
month of ISTovember, 1862, under the conmiand of Colonel 
(now Major-General) M. D. Leggett, of the Seventy-Eighth 
Ohio, who commanded it dming the entire campaign 
through Northern jSlississippi to Water Valley and back to 
Memphis, and thence down the ^lississippi River to Lake 
Providence, thence to Milliken's Bend, and in that memor- 
able campaign in the rear of Vicksburg, participating in all 
the battles fought in that campaign. Colonel Legget having 
been promoted to a Brigadier-General, still retaining com- 
mand of the brigade until in June, 1863, he was assigned 
to the command of the first brigade, when the command 
devolved on Colonel (now Brevet Major-General) M. F. 
Force, of the Twentieth Ohio, who commanded until No- 
vember, 1863, when he was assigned to the command of 
the first brigade, third division of the Seventeenth Army 
Corps. The command then devolved on Colonel (now Brig- 
adier-General) R. K. Scott, of the Sixty-Eighth Ohio,, who 
commanded it until the 22d of July, in front of Atlanta, 
where he was taken prisDiier, when the command devolved 
on Colonel (now Brevet Brigadier-General) G.F. Wiles, of the 
Seventy-Eighth Ohio, wh ) commanded until Colonel Scott 
was exchanged, on the 28th day of September, 1864, when 
he resumed command of the brigade and commanded it 
until the 28tli day of December, 1864, while at Savannah, 
Ga., when he was granted a leive of absence to go North to 
recuperate his health and visit his family in Ohio. While at 
liome he was appointed a Brigadier-General, on the 12th 
day of January, 1865. He rt^oined the brigade at Golds- 



14 HISTORY OF THE 

l)oro, Nortli Carolina, on the 25tli day of March, 18G5, 
and resnmed command of the brigade, since whicli 
time he has commanded it. During liis absence in January 
und February, 1865, Colonel G. F. Wiles, of the Seventy- 
Eighth Ohio, commanded the brigade. The brigade has 
])een in all the principal battles and marches in which the 
Army of the Tennessee has taken part, from Fort Donelson 
up to the surrender of Johnston in ISTorth Carolina. The 
following is a list of the battles inscribed on its banner: 

Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Bolivar, luka, 
Corintli, Matamora, Thompson's Hill, Raymond, Jackson, 
Champion Hills, Fort Hill, Vicksburg, Fort Beauregard, 
Bocachita, Meridian Raid, Big Shanty, Bushy Mountain, 
Kenesaw, N"ickajack, Siege of Atlanta, Atlanta, July 21st, 
Atlanta, July 22d, Atlanta, July 28th, Jonesboro, Lovejoy, 
Milledgeville, Savannah, Pocotaligo, Orangeburg, Charles- 
ton, Columbia, Bentonville— 34 in all. 

Brigadier-Ceneral R. K. Scott and staff; 1st Lieut. Henry 
AVelty, of 68th Ohio, A. A. A. G.; 1st Lieut. Jasper IL 
Smith, of 68th Ohio, A. A. D. C; 1st Lieut. Rus. Bethel, of 
78th Ohio, A. A. D. C; 1st Lieut. Henry E. Bigelow, of 
78th Ohio, A. A. Q. M.; Capt. Rollin H. Crane, of Hth Wis- 
consin, Pro. Mar. and Brig. Lisp.; 1st Lieut. George Thorna, 
of 20t]i Ohio, in charge of brigade ambulances; Capt. Ed. E. 
Ifutt, of 20tli Ohio, Picket Officer. 

T'U'EKTIETH OHIO VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. 

The Twentieth (Jhio Veteran Volunteers was organized at 
Camp Chase, Ohio, in the months of September and Octo- 
])er, 1861, and first commanded l)y Col. Chas. "WHiittlese}', of 
C'leveland, Ohio. It was engaged during the ^\^uter of 1861 
and 1862 in quelling an insurrectionary district in Kentucky. 
In February it moved up the Cumberland river, was in the 
liattle of Foi-t Donelson, and thereafter became a part of 
Grant's army of the West, now known as the Army of the 
Tennessee. The battles and marches of this famous arm}- 
are the record of the regiment. Fort Donelson, Shiloh, 
Bolivar, Matamora, Mississippi Central Expedition, Thomp- 



SEVENTY-EIGnTH REGIMENT 0. V. V, I. 15 

son's Ilills, Rapnond, Jackson, Clianipion Hills, Siogo of 
Vicksburg, Meridian Eaid, Big Shanty, Kenesaw, Nickajack, 
and Atkanta 22d and 28th, at the Siege of Atlanta, Jonet- 
boro, and Lovejoy — the pnrsnit of Hood in North Georgia 
and Alabama — Sherman's march to the ^ea and through the 
Carohuas, participating in the battles of Savannah, Poco- 
taligo, Orangebnrg, Eennettsville, &c. The regiment re- 
enlisted as veteran A'olnnteers at Yicksbnrg, Miss., on the 
1st day of January, 18G4; it has lost in action since coiuiiig 
into the field nearly four hundred men ; its present aggre- 
gate is five hnndred. Soon after the battle of Shiloh Coi. 
"Whittlesey resigned, and was succeeded b}- Colonel 3ir. F. 
Force (now Brevet Major-General). Since General Force's 
promotion the regiment has not had a Colonel — ruot 
having the "minimnm" reqnired to secure and muster in 
that grade. It has since l)een connnandcd successively by 
Lieutenant-Colonel J. IST. McElroy, Lientenant-Colonel J. C. 
Fry, Lieutenant-Colonel ILarry "Wilson. The latter of whom 
has commanded on the march through Georgia and the Car- 
olinas. The following is at present the field and stafi' of the 
regiment: Harry Wilson, Lieutenant-Cokmcl ; P. Vreatli- 
erby, Major; II. P. Trickee, Surgeon; J. AY. (Tuthric. 
Assistant Surgeon; H. 0. Dwight, Adjutant; J. W. Ski!- 
len, Quartennaster. Nine medals of honor liave been grant- 
ed as follows in the regiment: Lieutenant-Colonel Harry 
Wilson, Captain L. IST. A^'crs, Captain Cliarles Stevenson, 
Captain Ed. E. Nutt, Sergeant W^illiam I>lackl)urn, Ser- 
geant John Pinehart, Sergeant David Robbins, I'ri\'ate 
John Alexander, and Private M. Elliott. 

NIXTH ILUXOIS MOUNTEn IXFAXTRV. 

The iSrinth Illinois Infantry was organized and mustered 
into the United States service at Springfield, Illinois, on the 
25th day of April, 18G1, under connnan.d of Colonel (latc 
Prigadier-General) E. A. Paine. At the expiration of three 
moTitlis, the regiment was recruited ibr the term of three 
years, retaining its number and original field officers; and 



IG HISTORY OF THE 

was stationed during this time at Cairo, Illinois. September 
1st Colonel I'aine was promoted to Brigadier, and the com- 
mand devolved on Colonel Augustus Mersey. September 
4th and 5th moved up the river and took peaceable posses- 
sion of the city of Paducah, Kentucky. February 5th, 
1862, started with the expedition against Fort Henry in the 
second division. Army of Tennessee, commanded by Briga- 
dier-General C. F. Smith. After tlie fall of Ilenr}^ marched 
with the conunand across to Fort Donelson, taking part in 
the attack on that stronghold, and m the engagement of 
the loth, losing 33 men killed, 165 wounded, and 6 
missing. Afler the surrender of Donelson moved up the 
river to Clarksville and JSTashville, from thence down the 
Cuml)erland and up the Tennessee, arriving at Pittsburg- 
Landiug on the 18th of March; took part in the battle 
of Shiloh on the 6th and 7th of April, 1862; losing on 
that field in officers and men, killed, 74, wounded, 280, 
missing, 10. In the month of May, following, took part in 
the siege of Corinth, having 18 men wounded in skirmishes. 
After the evacuation of that place, was stationed there 
and at diti'erent times at Danville and liicnzi, Mississippi, 
until the 3d of October, when the regiment took part in .the 
«lefense of Corinth against Price and Van Doru, losing in all 
20 killed and 82 wounded. Was stationed at Corinth dming 
the winter of '62 and '63. ^March 4th, 1863, the regiment 
Ijeing much reduced in numbers Avas ordered to be mounted, 
and was assigned to duty with the celela^ated Colonel 
Corny n, of the Tenth Missouri Cavalry, making several 
dashes with him into Northern Alabama and ^lississippi. 
On the 3d of June, 1863, moved camp to Pocahontas, Ten- 
nessee, making innumerable scouts and marches, and taking 
part in the raid on Grenada, Mississip})i, in which 54 loco- 
motives, 500 cars, and a large amount of Ordinance, (Quar- 
termaster's and C^onunissary stores were destroyed; being 
engaged during this time in sixteen skirmit^hes of greater or 
1 jss importance, losing in the aggregate ten men killed and 
forty-two wounded. October 30th, left l*ocahontas, Tenn., 



SEVEXTY-EIGIITH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 17 

on the 13th of ISTovember, arriving and being stationed on 
outpost duty at Athens, Ahibama. March llth^ 1864, moved 
across Tennessee river to Decatur. In picket-skirmishing 
here lost two men killed and ten wounded. September 3d, 
1863, 128th Illinois Volunteers was consolidated with 9th Illi- 
nois. May 1st, 1861, left Decatur, Ala., to escort Sixtcentli 
Army Corps ^^^agon train to Chattanooga. Arrived at Snake 
Creek Gap, Ga., in' time to take the advance of the Army 
of the Tennessee, and open the fight, skirmishing all day, 
where Lieutenant-Colonel PhilHps, who had conmianded the 
regiment ever since it had beeji mounted, was wounded 
L( st sixteen men killed, wounded and prisoners that clav. 
Was with the Sixteenth Army Corps through the campaign 
ending at Lovejoy Station, AYas transferred with the Second 
Di\Hsion Sixteenth Army C'orps to the Fifteenth Army 
Corps, and stationed for some time at Eorne, Ga., where, in 
scouting and outpost duty, the regiment lost ten men. On 
leaving Atlanta, in Sherman's campaign to the sea, the 
regiment was transferred to the Seventeenth Army Corps, 
l)ut was assigned to duty with the Twentieth Army Corps, 
and held the advance of that Corps from Atlanta to Savan- 
nah. Was engaged in several sharp skirmishes, losing on 
the campaign two officers and twenty-three men. On the 
campaign through the Carolinas jield the advance of the 
Seventeenth Corps, taking part in all the battles and skir- 
mishes in which the Corps was engaged in that long and 
eventful campaign, losing one of its best officers and several 
men, and being especially complimented in. General Orders 
from Headquarters Department and Army of Tennessee, for 
the part taken in the action at River's 13ridge, South Caro- 
lina. The rednient was reorganized and consolidated on the 
28th day of July, 1864, near xVtlanta, Georgia, by reason of 
the non -veterans, about 350 men, and all the officers but 
three, being mustered out — the command devolving upon 
Captain S. T. Hughes. The regiment was, in obedience to 
orders from Major-General McPherson^ commanding tho 
2 B 



18 HISTORY OF TOE 

Department and Army of tlie Tennessee,^ reorganized as a 
six conipan}^ battallion, known and numbered as the Kinth 
Uluiois Moraited Inflmtiy Volunteers. Wliile at Alexandria, 
Virginia, ' a veteran detachment of the Twenty-Seventli Illi- 
nois lufantiy was consolidated with it, forming the seventh 
company. On" leaving Washington to come "West, for want 
of adequate means of transportation for their horses, the 
battallion was'dismonnted and assigned to the Second Brig- 
iide, Third Division, of Seventeenth Army Corps for duty. 
Tlie aggregate sti-ength of tlie battallion, present and absent 
now, is 578 men. The field and staff officers arc : S. T. 
Hughes, Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding; A^^illiam Padon, 
Major; D. L. Bigge, Surgeon; L. L. Troy, Adjutant; Siun- 
uel Cove, Quai-teiiiiastcr. 

SISTY-EIGHTH OHIO TFTEKAS TOLCNTEEE J'SFA^TRY, 

Tills regiment -^<ras organize I 'at E"apoleon, Ohio, jSTovcm- 
her 21st, 186"i, from whence it moved to Camp Chase, Ohio, 
Januaiy ISth, 1862, and moved from thence, FebiTutiy 12tlr, 
1862, by way of CincmHaf i and Louisville to Padueah, Ky.., 
where it joined the fleet, then about to move up the Cumber- 
laud river against Fort Donelson. The reg-imeut disem- 
barked ])g1ow the Fort and joined Grant's arm}-, «nd took 
part- in the reduction of that rebel stronghold. On the 10th 
of Alarch following it moved across the country Tvith the 
balance of the army to Matal Landing on the Tennessee 
liver, six' miles above Fort Henry, where it took steamer for 
Pittsburg Landirig, but before arriving there received orders 
to stop at Cnim]>'s Landhig, five miles below Pittsburg; it 
formed a part of the Second Brigade of General Lew Wal- 
lace's Di\'Lsiou. Tlie brigade was commanded by Colonel 
Thayer, of the 1st Nebraska, (now Brigadier-General); it 
was not engaged in the battle of Shiloh, being left in charge 
of camp and train at Crump's Landing. It took part in the 
skirmishes in the advance on Corinth, and the siege of that 
place. After the fall of Corinth it was marclied to Bolivar, 
Tennessee, and took part in the movement on luka, and iu 



SEVENTY-EIGIITH REGIMENT 0. V. V. t. 19 

tlio battle of ]\:[;itamora, on the Ilateliie river, with. Price 
find Yau Doni; after which it formed part of the Second 
.1 brigade of General Joliu A. Logan's Division, and was in 
the Northern Mississippi campaign, and arrived at Memphis, 
Tennessee, Jannary 25, 18G3; from thence it moved down 
the Mississippi river to Lake Providence, and lielped to dig 
the canal from the river to the lake at that place; from 
thence it moved down tlie river to Milliken's Bend, and 
assisted in building the military road from tjie Bend to ]Srew 
Carthage — the road by whicii Grant's army moved to gain 
the river below Yicksburg — -and on tlie 1st day of May, 
18G3, it crossed the Mississippi and took part in the battle of 
Thompson's Hill ; following the enemy closely, it took part 
hi the battles of Raymon'd, Mississippi, May 12, 1863, and 
tfackson, Mississippi, May 14, and Champion Hills, May 16, 
1863, and participated in the entire siege of Ticksburg, and 
all the raids in ISIississippi, from Yicksbnrg to Jackson, 
Canton, Bogacliitta, Meridian, and the ]\Ionroe raid, in Louis- 
iana. The regiment reorganized as veterans December 15, 
1833, and went home as a veteran organization in April. 
After returniug to Cairo, ^lay 10, it moved wuth its old 
l)rigade, second, Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, 
' up the Tennessee river to Clifton. Landing, from there it 
marched across the country to Hunts ville, Alabama, from 
there to Rome, Georgia, from Rome to Ackworth, where it 
joined Sherman's army. It participated in the light at Big 
Shanty, Bushy ^Mountain, Kenesaw, ISTickajack Creek, At- 
lanta, July 21st, 22d and 23d, and the entire siege of Atlanta: 
also at Jonesl)oro and Lovejoy Station ; also in the famous 
chase after Hood through Northern Georgia and Alabama, 
and in " Sherman's March to the Sea." It pai'ticipated in ths 
siege of Savannah, and Sherman's raid through the Caro- 
linas; at Pocataligo, Orangeburg, Columbia, Bentomdlle, 
Jlaleigh, etc. The regiment has marched on foot over five 
thousand miles since its first organization. The regiment was 
first commanded by Colonel Samuel II. Steedman; lie wtvs 
succeeded by Colonel (now Brigadier-General) R. K. Scott; 



20 HISTORY OF THE 

he was succGeded by Lieutenant-Colonel George E. Wellef', 
who now commands it; the regiment not being a minimum 
one, is not entitled to a Colonel. The regiment has lost in 
killed and wounded since entering the field over three hun- 
dred men. The aggregate strength of the regiment at 
present is 525, 375 of whom are now in camp for duty. The 
follo^\^ng are the field aud statf: Lieutenant-Colonel, Geo. 
E. Welles; Major, Arthur Crockett; Surgeon, John G. Big- 
ham; Adjutant, 11. Welty ; Quartermaster, Elmer Y. Smutz, 

SEA'ENTEE2>TH WKCON^IN VETEKAN VOLUNTEER INFAXTRY. 

This regiment was organized at Madison, "Wisconsin, on 
the 10th of March, 1862, under orders from the Governor^ 
and was composed priiK-ipally of L-islimen.' Its original 
Colonel, John L, Duran, resigned JSTovember 25th, 1862, and 
was succeeded by its present Colonel. Shortly after its 
organization the regiment was called to Pittsburg Landi]:g, 
Tennessee, where it joined the grand aimy under Major- 
General Grant, then about to advance on Corinth. It v.xs 
assigned to the Eirst Brigade,- Sixth Division. The regiment 
participated in tlie battle of Corinth, October 8d and 4th, 
1862, and in the Mississippi raid, after which it was ordered 
to Lake Providence, Louisiana. It took an active part 
during ihe siege and battles before Yicksburg. After the 
fall of the city it was ordered to Xatchez, where it was 
mounted, and did active service for four months. On the^ 
8t]i of IVLarch tlie regiment proceeded to Wisconsin on vete- 
ran furlough, and returned to the field on the 23d day oi' 
April, 1864, reporting to Brevet Major-General Leggett, 
commanding the Third Division, of the Seventeenth Aim\- 
Corps. ITnder his command it participated in the campaign 
before Ivcnesaw, on the Cbattahooche, and aroinid Atlanta — 
in the battles of Jonesboro, Lovcjoy's Station, Savannah. 
Pocataligo, Orangeburg, Cohunbia, Bentonville, The regi- 
ment now numbers tbirty-four couimissioned ofiicers and 720 
non-commissioned olficers and privates, making an aggregate 
of 763 present and absent. Tlic field and stafi' ofUcers are 



SEYEXTY-EIGIITII REGIMENT 0. V. V. L 21 

A. G. Afalloy, Brevet Brigadier-General ; Donald J). Scott, 
Lieutenant-Colonel; P. IL McCanley, Major; Hardy Den- 
nisten, Adjutant; Ricliard Plielan, (Quartermaster; George 
St. Sune, Assistant Surgeon; Francis Fusscder, Chaplain, 



COMPANY OFFICERS, :N^OX-COMinsrsIOXED OFM~ 
CEIiS AXD EXLISTED MEX 

OF THE DIFFERENT COMPANIES, AND DISPOSITIONS OF THE SAMS ; ALSO 
THE ORIGINAL AND VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS, TOGETHER WITH THE: 
NAMES OF RECRUITS AND DRAFTED SIEN ADDED TO THE SESPECTIVE. 
COMPANIES.- , 

^Vas raised in ]\Iuskin.o-nni and Guernsey connties by 
Horace I). Munson, of Pntnan.^i, Oliio, and organized ISToveni- 
])QY 21st, 1861. 11. D. Munson was appointed Captain, 
Thomas P. Wilson First Lieutenant, and James T. Caldwell 
Second Lieutenant. 

During' the whole war there was not^ perhapg,, a company 
of better, hig^her toned men left their State. They were of the 
^■ery best men of the community in which they lived. Stu- 
dents attending ^Muskingum College, the sons of woithy 
iarmera and business men, made up the company. There 
Avere but few who had not a good education, and were not 
members of the chui-ch, or the sons of those who Vv'ere living^, 
active Christians. The company maintained its Christian 
integritv' and high-toned character throughout its whole- 
term of service. Its record is brilliant vvith noble de-eds and 
sacrifices in sustaining the honor of the flag which led them 
through so many hard battles, daring campaigns, and always- 
on to victory and complete success. The men of Company 
"A" never came out second best in anything — in coolness, 
courage, discipline, l^^cihty and rapidity of military move- 
ments and combinations, and every attainment — had fev^- 
requests to niidvc, no- faults to liiid; as good soldiers thej 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I- 23 

couUl not be excelled. For reliability, faitlifulness in every 
duty, qiiiet submission to all orders, iutegrity, aud consistent 
Christian character, tlie company could not be surpassed. 

Captain H. J). Mmi&on was a true representative of the 
suen, combiniDg the same qualities. He was well known 
throughout the county, and his irreproachable cliaracter and 
high reputation made him very successful in gathering under 
his banner the very best class of men. ^liss Julia Munson, 
noted for her liigh attainments both in vocal and instru- 
mental music, entered the field as a recruiter of volunteers, 
M'ith her father, and bj her patriotic songs influenced many 
'io enlist in the regiment. 

" Captain ^lunson's health soon failed him, and was there- 
fore compelled to quit the service. He resigned in the 
Autumn of 1862. Lieutenant T. P. Wilson succeeded him 
as Captain of tlio Company. 

The Captain was a resident of Guernsey County, a 
well to do farmer; a man of iufluence in his connnunity? 
ii consistent and earnest Christian, which character he 
deeply impressed upon his men, so that profanity and 
intemperance were seldom known among his men. His 
term of service expired December, 1864, when he was 
mustered out and q^uit the service, after three years of 
faithful service to his country and to the noble men he 
liad so long commanded, and led through all the im- 
portant battles in wh.icli the regiment participated. Lieu- 
tenant Adolphus "W. Searcli, _A.djiitant of the Regiment, 
succeeded Mm as Captain, which was an excellent ap- 
pointment, and very acceptable to the Company. He 
possessed those traits of character which maintained that 
high state of good order and discipline that Captain 
Wilson had left m the company,^^ 

James T. Caldwell, was promoted to Fh-st Lieutenant, 
iiund a few days afterwards fell mortally wounded, at the 
battle of Champion Hills, while commanding Company 
•"K," temporarily. We neither flatter nor speak too 

Sa& Field aad SUiL* 



24 HISTORY OF THE 

strong, when we say that no more efficient and better officer, 
no truer Christian, no more loyal man to God and the 
nation, and no more worthy young man ever gave his 
life for his countiy. 

He had all those traits of character that make life 
beautiful, honored and loved by all good men. After 
three days severe suffiaring from his wound he died peace- 
fully, and in the triumph of faith. To him death had 
uo terror; its sting had been taken away. 

"William M. Sleeth, Commissary Sergeant, had suc- 
ceeded Lieutenant Cakh^^li as Second Lieutenant, and 
was promoted to Firet Lieutenant at Atlanta. He was 
detached in October, 1864, from the regiment, to the 
Commissary Department of Third Division, Seventeenth 
Army Corps, where he remained till tlie Winter of 18G5, 
when he returned to the regiment and was made 
Adjutant.^^ 

Eussel Bethel was promoted to Second Lientenant, and 
then to First Lieutenant and assigned to Company "A.'^ 
but was afterwards detailed on the Staff of Second Brig- 
ade. He is an officer of commanding appearance, a young 
mail of good attainments, and character. 

He received a medal of honor from the War Department, 
for distinguished bravery, in the battle before Atlanta, on 
thc! 22d day of July, He was noted somewhat for his success 
in teaching disloyal men at the Korth that their position wa« 
an unsafe one, and a horizontal one very unexpectedly 
and suddenly assumed was the better plan, by which he 
could impart to them lessons of wholesome instructions. 

Sergeant William H, Cockins, was promoted to Second 
Lieutenant in the early part of 1865. lis was an exem- 
plai-y young man, of good business qualifications, and a 
fine drill-master. In the battle before Atlanta, July 22<.l, 
1864, he was severely wounded. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTII REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 



25 



The followino; are the names of the non-commissioned 
oificers and enhsted men of the original organization of 
Company "A:" 

SERGEANTS. 

1. L. ^V. A. Sinsabangh, 3. Milton F. Timms, 

2. Israel C. Robinson, 4. Wm. J. Heskett, 

5. Albert Henderson. 



1. John R. Edgar, 

2. Gabriel H. Holland, 

3. Isaiah ]\Ioore, 

4. Yrm. II. Cockiiis, 
Wm. Douglas, 1st ]Mns 

Jose]^ 

Arthur, James C. 
Ayers, AVinficld S. 
Barnum, Pliilo B. 
Barnet, John ,B. 
Bell, Da\^d li. 
Brewer, James M. 
jjoycr, John R. 
Castor, Philander S. 
Caldwell, James T., jr. 
Cbpcland, Joseph 
Corbin, Charles M. 
Cockins, Simeon 
Coulter, James M. 
Connor, Wilson E. 
Cra^vford, Henry "W". 
Cra^^^ord, James 
Crawford, Robert R. 
Cramblet, Eli B. 
Curtis, James P. 
Culbertson, Robert F. 
Dickson, Samuel 



CORPORALS. 

5. Henry ]\IcCrcary, 

0. Ezra G. Warne, 

7. Joseph I. Geyer, 

8. Geo. W. Irvin. 

ician, James Douglass, 2d Musician, 
)li Porter, Wagoner. 

PRIVATES. 

Dickerson, Joshua 
Daugherty, John B. 
Douglas, David 
Fleming, James E. 
Forsythe, David W. 
Fulton, John 
Glenn, Isaac 
Glenn, Josiah D. 
, Hiatt, James II. 

Herron, Isaac G. 
Johnson, Solomon 
Johnson, Abram 
Kaemmerer, Charles W. 
Law, John G. 
Law, Andrew 
Leadman, John l!^. 
Linn, Samuel ^L 
Lyon, Wesley M. 
Lyons, John 
^Lathews, John F. 
Matson, Benjamin F. 



26 



HISTOllY OF THE 



Matchet, John L. 
Mercer, Iliram H. 
Miihaftey, James II. 
Mahaffey, Robert W. 
McA\^iirter John 
MeFarlanil, Robert L. 
]Moorliea(l , Hiram 
Alunson, Frank 
I'atton, James 
Parkhill, James 
Porter, ^Vm. ^Y. 
Ivichardson, Geo. AV. 
Ivichey, Geo. II. 
Robinson, Aaron 
lioss, John P. 
iSarbangh, John W. 
Bines, John J. 
Smith, Geo. F. 
Sh river, Robert ^l. J. 



Sntton, Wm. A. 
Spring, Jolni W. 
Speer, Henry 
Speer, AVilHam S. 
Stewart, Joseph R. 
Sterhng, James F. 
Thompson, Thomas R. 
Thompson, David R. 
Turner, Mihon 
Trace, Matliias 
Vogt, Louis 
Wagstaff, Henry W 
Waxier, Wm. R. 
"Walters, Tliomas L. 
White, William G. 
Wilson, George W. 
Wilson, James R. 
Wilson, John J. 



AVilson, John A. 
Wilson, David. 
(Jf the enhsted men the foUowing have died, been dis 
cliarged for disabihty, or killed in battle : 

Lieutenant Henry Speer, mortally wounded at Atlanta. 

Sergeant ^Vlilton F. Timms, discharged for disability. 

Sergeant William J. Heskett, mustered out, time expired. 

Sergeant Albert Henderson, discharged. 

F*hilander S. Castor, discharged. 

John 13. Daughcrty, time expired, mustered out. 

Isaac G. Herron, " " " " 

James IL Hyatt, " " " " 

George ^1. Irvin, died of disease. 

Henry JMcCreary, mustered out, time expired. 

Abraham Johnson, " " " " 

James F. Sterling, " " " " 

Wesley M. Lyon, killed on Fort Hill, Yicksburg. 

Louis B. Vogt, killed at Champion Hills. 

James II. Coulter, died of disease. 



SEYENTY-EIGIITU REGIMENT 0. T. Y. I. 



TTe'iiiy 'W. Crawford, died of disease. 

jvobert A. Culbcrtson, " 

Jos] ma Diekerson, " " 

James E. Fleming, " " 

Isaac Glenn, " " 

Solomon Jolmsou, " " 

Charles W. Kaemmcrer, died of disease. 

John G. Law, " 

John JjYons, " 

John F. :Mathews, " 

Iliram F. ]Mereer, " 

John McAVhirter, " 

(Jeorge 11. Eichey, " 

A\"illiam Sutton, " 

rFohn W. Spring, " 

Joseph Stewart, " 

Josiah D. Glenn, deserted. 

Lieutenant Thomas L. Walters, killed in battle. 

James C. Arthur, discharged. 

DaYid R.Bell, 

James S. Caldwell, " 

Joseph Copeland, " 

Simeon Cockins, discharged on account of wounds, 

Wilson E. Conner, discharged. 

James Crawford, " 

William G. White, mustered out, time expired. 

< Tabriel II. Holland, mustered out, time expired and prisoner. 

James P. Curtis, discharged. 

William Douglass. '• 

DaYid Douglass, " 

Andrew ]M. Law, " 

Samuel jI. Linn, transferred to luYalid Corps, 

liobert McFarland, discharged. 

James Patton, " 

Aaron W. Robinson, " 

John W. Sarbaugh, " 

Wilham U. Maseler, " 



28 HISTORY OF TUE 

rrohn A. "Wilson, discliarged. 

Frank Lerdman, '' 

Howard S. Al)l)ott, " 

James II. ]\Iahalfey, " 

Kobert W. Maliaftey, " 

Joseph Porter, " 

Jolm J. Sines, " 

Henry ^¥. Wagstaff, " 

David Wilson," " 

John ^V. Goslien, " 

Jolm E. Edgar, promoted to Second Lieutenant. 

John B. Eoss, promoted to First Lientcnant. 

January 5tli, 1864, the regiment accepted the offer of the 
Government, Mdiicli was four hundred dollars bounty to 
each man, and re-enlisted for three years more, and became 
thereafter a veteran organization. 

The following arc the names of the men who re-enlisted 
as veterans, together with their rank in the veteran organ- 
ization : 

Isaiah Moore, First Sergeant. 
Jolm B. Barnett, Second Sergeant, 
dolm L. iSIatcIiett, Third Sergeant^ — wounded in battle. 
Wilham S. Speer, Fourth " " " 

James B. Wilson, Fifth " ' " " 

r^Iilton Turner, First Corporal — arm amputated from 

wounds, 
liieliard M. J. Shriver, Second Corporal. 
Kobert E. Crawford, Third Corporal. 
(}eorge F. Smith, Fourth Corporal. 
Eobert A. Cockins, Fifth Corporal — wounded in battle. 
Iliram Moorehead, teamster in Bioneer Corps, Third Div. 
Winlield S. Ayres, Private. 

John II. Boyd, " — wounded in battle. 

Charles M. Corbin, " 
Eli B. Cramblet, " 

8amuel Dickerson, " — wounded in battle. 

James Douglass, " 



SEVEXTY-EIGHTII REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 29 

David ^V. Forsytlie, Private. 

Joliii Fulton, " 

John N". Leadman, " 

Frank Mnnson, " 

James 11. Tatton, " 

George II. Ilicliardson, Private. 

George 'C. Smith, " 

Thomas P. Tliompson, " 

David P. Thompson, " 

]\Iat]iias Trace, " taken prisoner in Georgia. 

John J. AVilson, " 

George W. AVilson, '• 

Ezra G. AVarren, " wounded. 

James M. Brewer, " 

"William Gatwood, Private — wounded at Bennottsx'ille. 

Sergeant AVilliam W. Porter, wounded and transferred. 

Pliilo B. Barnum, Private — wounded. 

Joseph L. Geyer, Hospital Steward. 

James Parkhill, Private — died ot" wounds. 

John lY. Morrison, " — died ot" disease. 

John II. Trace, " — died in reljcl prison. 

John F. Thompson, " — died ot" disease. 

John P. Wilson, " " " 

John W. AYilson, " " " 

The follovring named men have been added to the com- 
pany as recruits, drafted men and substitutes, during the 
fall and winter of 18G4: 

Christian Ton jSTeidenhcaser, Drafted, Octoljer, 1804. 
Thomas Bell, " " • 

Peter W^caver, " " 

Casper Zimmeriiian, " " 

Moses Bash, " " 

Alexander G. Moore, " " 

Amos :Mabley, " " 

John ^V. Miracle, " " 

Young Og'g, " " 

John Ogg, " " 



so HISTORY OF THE 

.I'hilip S. Smock, Drafted, October, 1864. 

Jjudwick Sherer, " " 

Andrew J. Thompson, " 

A^illiam Warren, 

Jacob C. Hinman, . " " 

AVilliam McJeftrey, " 

Al)el Carncs, 

JolniKnntz, " 

] Eamilton Catou, " 

Jacob Cliubb, 

Thomas M. Cordrj, " 

James Dotson, " " 

Samuel K. Frazier, " "• 

John AV. Fowler, Vokinteer of 18G2 for three year?. 

John C. AVahace, 

John C. Lorimore, " 1864 " 

John McConanghy, " " " 

Robert 13. Nelson, 

Jesse "\Y. Wilson, " " " wounded. 

Charles S. Wylie, 

John Glenn, " 

Hugh Gillespie, 

William Gillespie, " " 

John A. Henderson, " 1862 

Joseph T. Matchett, 

Alexander McConanghy, *' " wounded. 

John W. Mc^'utt, " " " 

Joseph liamsey, " "■ " 

Ilobert S. Speer, " " " 

Hoi onion J. Donaldson, " " " wounded. 

Alexander Cox, " " died of disease. 

Thomas Dickson, 

I'reston H. Forsythe, " " 

8amuel 11. Hughs, " " " " 

Joseph K.Mar"shall, 

licnjamin F. AVatson, «' ** killed in l>attle. 

Jctferson II. Miller, «^ ** tlied of disease. 



SEYENTY-EICIIXn REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 31 

Joseph G. Thompson, " " died of disease. 

James Cond, Vohintccr of 1862, missing in action. 

liarney Gease, " " 

Joel D. Herron, 

George A. Houston, " " 

liobci-t R. Jones, 

John Fuhon, " 

3)cnnis Chase, Substitute, died of disease. 

Cliristian Desinger, " 

George Glenn, " 



CO:?>I3?^]SrY 33, 

I> Coinpanr was raised in Putnam and vicinity, hy Z. 
M. Chandler and Gr. F. Wiles, of Putnam, Ohio, and or- 
ganized December 12tli, 1861. A Ijraver and Letter Jig-ht- 
ing company of men never left the State. Many were 
strong farmers and mechanics, who v/ere dee[)ly in 
earnest in loving their wives and children, fine farms and 
]>leasaiit homes — left them in obedience to their country's 
call for defenders against traitors, who had kindled the 
Ihimes of civil war and threatened the very life of the 
luition. 

Z. }d. Chandler was appointed Captain, Greenburj' F, 
AViles First Lieutenant, and Gilbert D. Munsou Second 
Lieutenant. 

Captain Chandler was then Superintendent of the Public 
Schools of Putnam, which position he resigned, believing 
it his duty to take tlie field of active operations in 
behalf of his country; but his health soon gave away to 
the miasma and debiHtatiug heat of the'Sonthern climate, 
lie was appointed ]Major of the regiment, and afterward 
Ijieutenant-Colonel,' and after leading the regiment on the 
Mississippi Campaign, and thence to Yicksburg, was 
compelled to resign after crossing the Mississippi river^ his 
constitution much broken and health altogether too feeble 
to enter further upon that terril)le campaign. 

Lieutenant Wiles, soon after leaving the State, was 
appointed Captain of company C. lie was a citizen of 
Putnam, and seemed to have a more than ordinary tact in 
the government and successful management of men. lie 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 33 

proved to be one of tlie best disciplinarians in the army. 
He was aj)pointed Lieutenant-Colonel, and took com- 
mand of the regiment on the battle-held of Champion 
Hills. Under his command the regiment became the best 
drilled in the Corps, and without doubt one of the best in 
the Western army. At Atlanta he was appointed Colonel 
of the regiment, and the greater part of the time du ring 
the sicg^ of Atlanta and afterwards, was in command of 
the Second Brigade. After the South Carolina campaign, 
he was appointed Brevet Brigadier-General in honor of 
his own efficiency as well as that of the regiment. 

Lieutenant Munson was promoted Captain of Company 
B, September 7th, 1862 ; George H. Porter to First Lieu- 
tenant and Joseph R. Miller to Second Lieutenant. Capt. 
Munson was afterwards detailed on General Leggett's 
staff; also Lieutenant Porter. The former w^as promoted 
to Lieutenant-Colonel, and the hitter Captain, and assigned 
to company K. 

Lieutenant Miller resigned his commission in the Au- 
tumn of 1864, after having commanded his company 
through the entire campaign of Atlanta. He was an 
efficient officer, a soldier and a gentleman. 

Under the new organization of the regiment, Lieut. 
A. Adair was promoted to Captain, April 22d, 1865, and 
assigned to company B ; James H. Gander to First Lieu- 
tenant and Amos Korman to Second Lieutenant. 

These three officers, promoted and assigned to this com- 
pany, are young men who enlisted in the regiment in 1861, 
and have passed through nearly four j-ears of the most 
terrible rebellion and bloody conflicts. They have survived 
it all and came out promoted for gallant conduct, and well 
have they earned it ; nobly have they sustained themselves, 
and done honor to their friends. 

Captain A. Adair is a young man of fine appearance, 
correct habits and quiet demeanor. 

Lieutenant J. H. Gander is rather diminutive in size, but 
has a large souL He possesses great energy of character, 
3 



3'4 mSTORY OF THE 

as most little men do, would flglit in a " minito *' nnlcss 
some person would hold liim, which would not bo difficult 
for a large man to do. He is an ethcient officer, highly 
respected and esteemed by his men, genial, affiihle and 
pleasant in his manners, and disposed to take things as 
good naturedly as circumstances will permit. 

Amos Xorman, Second Lieutenant, is a young man 
known more by what he does than what he promises to do. 
Portly in appearance, strong will and full of energy, and 
and)itious to discharge his duty f\iithfully. A man bound 
to grapple fearlessly with difficulties, and finally succeed. 
I To is a very efficient officer. 

The following are the names of the non-commissioned 
officers and enlisted men of the original organization : 

SERGEANTS. 

1. Geo. W. Porter, 8. Andrew McDaniel, 

2. Adolphus ^Y. Search, 4. Joseph R. Miller, 

5. Thomas S. Armstrong. 

CORPORALS. 

1. David Sherrard, jr., 5. Henry S. Axline, 

2. James M. Thompson, G. Lewis AV. Rusk, 

^. Fcnton Bagley, 7. Benjamin F. Scott, 

4. James II. Gander, 8. Harrison Yarner. 

Charles II. Bunker, ^klusician. Cory don R. Wiles, Wagoner. 

PRIVATES. 

Austin, Randolph C. Beardslee, George W. 

I'entley, William Cooper, George W. 

Besser, W. II. Corder, Lewis 

Baugus, Henry C, Cherry, John 

Bugh, David Carson, James W. 

Be-^ser, AVilliam Crooks, Henry 

Brelsford, Amos H. C'lugston, Thomas 

Barrel], Charles Curtis, Enoch 

I>aird, John T. Crouse, James P. 

Black, Samuel M. Crosby, Nelson D. 

Bell, Clements (^ooper, Asaph 

Baker, Joseph H. Dutro, Samuel II. 



SEVEXTY-EIGHTn REGIMBNT 0. V. V. I. 



J)ic'ksoTi, Andrew 
Dilts, Robert S. 
Drone, Henry 
Drumm, Isaac 
Dickson, Saninel 
Edwards, David 
Fonntain, AVilliam 
Francis, Andrew 
Fulkerson, AVni, 
Ganckn', John T. 
(Gardner, Ilamline 
(xoulding', Saninel 2S[ 
Hart, Christopher 
Henderson, James 
Home, Daniel, jr. 
lunis, William 
Jones, John E. 
Jones, Henry 0. 
Knight, M(niroe 
Knight, Charles 
Kincade, Anthony 
Lewis, Samnel 
Loy, George W. 
Larrison, David 
Melick, James P. 
Myers, James H. 
^fycrs, Lewis E. 



Miller, Branson S. 
Miller, William F. 
Moore, Jolni T. 
Mills, Andrew J. 
Moore, Lewis 
Norman, Amos 
Osmond, Josepli 
Powell, James M. 
Roberts, Charles 
Roberts, Leroy A, 
8tonebnrner, Elijah 
Spring, John W. 
Snttles, Benjamin 
Simpson, James 
Shiplett, William 
Skinen, John 
Sniff, Alva B. 
Sims, John R. 
Skincn, Owen 
Varnei", Francis M. 
Varner, John M. 
White, Robert J. 
Wilson, Solomon 
A\"eaver, William H. 
AVhite, William J. 
^Veaver, John 
Yonnger, Jacob 
Youngci', AVilliam C. 

have been killed in action 



Of the above the folio \vi 
John T. Moore, near Colnmbia, S. 0. 
Lewis Moore, Canton, Miss. 
John Skinen, " " 

Benjamin F. Scott, Atlanta, Ga. 
Asaph Cooper, Champion Hills, Miss. 

The following have died of disease and wouiuU: 
liandolph C. Austin, Yicksburg, .Miss. 
Jeremiah Xorris, Memphis, Tenn. 
William J. J^orris, Yicksburg, Miss. 



36 HISTOKY OF THE 

Harrison Varner, Clinton, Miss. 

John Weaver, Shiloli, Tenn. 

Corydon E. AViles, Atlanta, Ga. 

James IsT. Thompson, Shiloh, Tenn. 

Charles W. Barrell, hospital, Cincinnati, 0. 

John T. Baird, Memphis, Tenn. 

Andrew Dickson, Savannah, Tenn. 

Samuel Dickson, Shiloh, Tenn. 

Samuel II. Dutro, Stony Point, Tenn. 

Andrew Francis, Stony Point, Tenn. 

Hamlin Gardner, Vickshurg, Miss. 

James Henderson, " " 

Daniel Home, jr.. Marietta, Ga., of wounds. 

John E. Jones, hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Anthony Vineader, Shiloh, Tenn. 

Samuel Lewis, Shiloh, Tenn. 

George W. Loy, Eaymond, Miss. 

James P. Melick, Savannah, Tenn. 

Joseph Osmond, Putnam, Ohio. 

Leroy A. lioberts, Shiloh, Tenn. 

David Sherrard, hospital, Mound City, HI. 

Alva B. Sniff, Yicksburg, Miss. 

January 5th, 1864, the following named men re-enlisted 
as veteran volunteers for three years more : 
Sergeant George W. Beardslee. 
Corporal Henry C. Beaugus. 
Charles H." Bunker. 

George Bash, discharged on account of wounds. 
Sergeant Lewis Corder. 
lN"elson D. Crosby. 
John Cherry. 
Clements Bell. 
Henry Drone. 
Kobert S. Dilta. 
Sergeant William Fulkerson. 

James II. Gander, promoted to Lieutenant afterwards. 
Daniel Home. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 



37 



Monroe Knight. * 

James H. Mjres. 

Corporal Andrew J. Mills. 

Jolin T. Moore. 

Lewis jSIoore. 

Amos Norman, promoted to Lieutenant afterwards. 

Charles Roberts. 

Elijah Stoneburner, 

John Skinnen. 

John M. Varner. 

Sergeant Robert W. "Wliite. 

Corporal "William J^. Weaver. 

Corporal Solomon W^ilson. 

Corydon R. Wiles. 

Corporal John W. Spring. 

Since the original organization of the company the fol- 
lovrintj volunteers, substitutes and drafted men have been 
added : 

VOLUNTEEH EECRUITS. 

Sutter D. Morgan, 



Joseph Ansel, 
Samuel Austin, 
David Baird, 
Felix W. Baii'd, 
Charles P. Bowers, 
Oliver J. Boyer, 
John K. Brown, 
Clements Coiin, 
Theodore E. Dick, 
George Ilickel, 
Thomas Flenmiing, 
Obed R. Farnswortii, 
Bernard Gesline, 
John Gochenower, 
James Gochenower, 
Thomas J. Howell, 
Joseph Jenkins, 
Vv^'arreu McClean, 



WiUiam H. McClanahan, 
ISTathaniel Mitchell, 
George IL Mathews, 
W^ilham J, IS'orris, 
Jeremiah ISTorris, 
Lewis C- Powell, 
George Perry, 
Leonard Reddick, 
Tliomas W. Ritchie, 
George Richardson, 
Gershom Rose, 
James G. Sinmis, 
Peter J. Snyder, 
Albert Stigler, 
Jesse Smitley, 
Isaac Spring, 
Simeon C. Search, 
Jacob Wilson. 



38 



HISTORY OF THE 



Daniel F. Ritter, 
ISTieholas Crappt, 
Iloriier Gerheads, 
Lafayette Lewis, 

►Steplien Dieksou, 

blames Gish, 
Jlarrison Grovcnor, 
J'cter GtoIi, 
flacol) llannan, 
.Ik'iijaiuin IlaiMcn 
Jolai Karcli, 
SumiR'l S. Lewis, 
Joseph Larue, 
Epliraim Miller, 
Ilemy Miller, 
Robert Masters, 
Henry McXeal, 
David Martin, 
Thomas Millio;an, 



SUBSTITUTES, * 

John IMullett, 
Albert Ileager, 
Henry Seizmiller, 
James Sparrowgrove. 

DRAFTEl). 

John Plnmmer, 
Danie! Pense, 
Ifiram Ivaney, 
AVilliam Iloush, 
Jackson Simpkins, 
Stephen Stevenson, . 
Lewis Sanders, 
James Sanders, 
Peter Smithsowles, 
John W. Stevenson, 
]^aul Stippieh, 
Pichard AVills, 
Jacob Wang-li, 
AVilliam G. Waltmaii, 



Xathan Yarington, 
Henry Yaney. 

The following have died of disease and been killed in 

action : 

Pelix W. P)aird, killed at Atlanta, Ga. 

Joh]i Gochenower, " " 

flames IL Gochenower, killed at Atlanta, Ga. 

(Jeorge IL Mathews, " " 

George Richardson, " " 

Abel R. Farnswdrtli, died of disease. 

John Iv. Brown, " " 

Joseph Jenkins, " " 

Paul Stippieh, " " 

Alva Day, deserted at Shiloh, Teuu. 

David Larrison, deserted at Memphis, Tenn. 

William Innis, " " '' 

Sergeant Lewis W. Rusk, deserted at Memphis, Tenii. 



Colundjus, O. 
Galesville, Ala. 
]S^ewbern« IsT. G. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 89 

All names uot in ithe foregoing list of disposition, are 
accounted for by being discharged for disability, contracted 
by disease or wounds in the ser\ice. 

DISCHARGED. 

Henry S. Axline, Thomas Clugstone, 

Thomas S. Armstrong, Silas Caton, 

IV^nton Bagley, . Isaac Drumm, 

William Bentley, David Edmunds, 

William Besser, Samuel Goulding, 

William II. Besser, Christopher J. Hart, 

David Bugh, Andrew J. Mills, (prisoner,) 

Samuel Black, John W. Spring, " 
(Jlements Boll, (prisoner,) Benjamin Suttles, 

Joseph Baker, James Simpson, 

George Bash, AYilliam Shiplett, 

George Cooper, Erancis !N'. Varncr, 

James "W. Carson, William J. White, 

Henry Crooks, Jacob Younger. 

The following letter from General Wiles, I take the 
] >nvilege of inserting here in reference to this company : 

Putnam, Ohio, Jaly 23d, 1865. 

'* On the 26th day of October, 1861, 1 received a commis- 
sion as Second Lieutenant to recruit for the Seventy-Eighth'" 
l^egiment Ohio Volunteer Intkntry, and at once traveled 
through the county north and west of Zanesville, to confer 
with my numerous acquaintances about the prospect of raising 
recruits, to engage in putting down this rebellion. They very 
frankly told me they did not believe I could get any men, for 
the reason that all who were going into the service, had 
already gone. I was of a different opinion, and at once com- 
jjienced a series of meetings at Uniontown, Kewtonville, 
iind at different schoolhouses in the county, and tor a time 
without success ; but the people after a time became inter- 
ested in the Union cause, (for constantly holding meetings 
awakened them up to do their duty) and where all was 
coldncHs and apathy, there wiis soon a wiirni, patriotic 



49 HISTORY OF THE 

feeling, and, in connection with Z. M. Chandler, succeeded 
in a short time in raising a company of men. 

The number of men enlisted by us amounted to one hun- 
dred and ten, and after transferring some to Captain Wall ar, 
and some to Captain Gebhart, the remainder, about one hun- 
dred, was organized as Co. " B," alwut the first of January, 
1862, with the followmg commissioned ofliccrs : Z. M, 
Chandler, Captain ; G. F. "Wiles, First Lieutenant ; G. D. 
Munson, Second Lieutenant. Afterward, Captain Chandler 
attained the rank of Colonel ; and G. F. "Wiles, Brevet 
Brigadier- General ; and G. D. Munson, Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel. G. F. Wiles and G. D. Munson served until the 
close of the war, and were mustered out with their command 
in Columbus, Ohio, on the 14th day of July, 1865. 

I served with Company "B" until after the battle of 
Sliiloh, when I was assigned to the command of Company 
" C," April 16th, and soon after I received a commission 
as Captain, and was continued in command of said com- 
pany until the 16th day of ^lay, 186S, when I received a 
commission as Lieutenant-Colonel, and immediately took 
command of the regiment. The command of the company 
then devolved on Lieutenant Alex. Scales, of Zanesville. 

In the month of December, 1862, I, with Company " C,'' 
was detached from the regiment to organize a Pioneer Corps 
and Pontoon Train. I believe this was the first Pioneer 
Corps organized in the Seventeenth Army Corps. In that 
capacity the company served with distinction, making roads 
and constructing bridges, and destroying bridges and forti- 
fications. They destroyed the heavy fortifications on the 
Tallahatchie, and also the bridges at that point. Better 
working men were not in the army. The company con- 
tinued in the Pioneer Corps until after the siege of Vicks- 
burg, and also on the Meridian Expedition. During the 
siege of Yicksburg the company was very efiicient, and no 
like number of men conduced more to the downfall of that 
stronghold than did Company "C." The men were from 
Zanesville and vicinity, and were a very robust set of men. 



SEVENTY-EIOnTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. L 41 

and very patriotic. At the mustering out of the command, 
and for a considerable time before, they were commanded 
by Captain John Mills, of Columbiana County. In addi- 
tion to their pioneering qualities, they were a splendid 
fighting company." 



consir^NY c. 

Tills company was raised in Zancsville and vicinity, and 
organized at Camp Gilbert, December 16tli, 1862. Samuel 
'W. Spencer was commissioned Captain; ^Yilliam Godfrey, 
Fi^'st Lieutenant ; Thomas P. Ross, Second Lieutenant. 

After the battle of Fort Donelson, Tenn,, while the regi- 
ment was encamped at Dover, Captain S}iencer, on account 
of ill health, went home, and not regaining his health 
sufficiently to return, resigned with less than a brilliant 
military career. Lleuteiumt Godfrey resigned after the 
battle of Sliiloh. Lieutenant lloss, on account of ill 
health, resigned his connuission at Crump's Landing, Tenn., 
M:irch 16th, 1862. 

Lieutenant G. F. Wiles was a]»pointed Captain and 
assigned to Company " C "' April 16th, 1862. Asa C. Cas- 
sldy was appointed First Lieutenant, and Alex. Scales Sec- 
ond Lieutenant, 

Caj)tain Wiles, with his company, was detached from the 
regiment and assigned to dut}^ as Pioneers for tlie Third 
] )ivisiou. The labor they performed in reconstructing roads 
for the trains, building bridges, and engineering and making 
new roads, was immense. Captain Wiles has the happy 
attainment of getting more work out of men than any other 
man we have ever known in the army. INIen who work 
iiowhere, would work well and faithfully under his superin- 
tendence. He therefore Ijccame well known throughout the 
Corps as an officer of more than ordinary efficiency. 

After his promotion to the command of the regiment, 
LieutenaTit Cassidy soon resigned, being dissatisfied with his 
assignment to "K"^company. Lieutenant Alex. Scales was 
then promoted to Captain of the company — which still 



SEVENTT-EIGHXn REOIMENT 0. V. V. I. 43 

remained on duty witli the Pioneer Corps until nearly the 
time the regiment veteranized, wlien it returned to tlie 
regiment for duty, and entered the veteran organization. 
Captain Scales resigned, and Lieutenant J. T. Story, of " F " 
company, tem})orarily commanded the company for eight 
months. During his administration the company was seve- 
ral thues highly complimented by prominent officers for 
] (resenting such a neat and soldierly apj)earancc on review 
and dress-parade ; and at a Sunday morning inspection 
Colonel Wiles presented one member of the company with 
a five-dollar "greenback," for having the prettiest gun and 
accoutrements in the army. 

Lieutenant John I), ^Nlills was promoted to Captain wliile 
liome on veteran furlough, and assigned to Compan}^ " C," 
and at Cairo, 111., May 10th, 186-i, relieved Lieutenant Story 
of the command of the company. 

Albert G. Gault was commissioned a Lieutenant and 
assigned to Company " C," having recruited for the regi- 
ment a sufficient number of men, in the fall of 18G2, to 
entitle him to the position. Lieutenant Gault, on account 
of ill health, was compelled to resign after the tall of 
Atlanta. He then went home, soon recruited his health, 
and took to himself a wife, which all wise and patriotic 
young men should do. 

Captijin J. B. ]\Iills acted Major of the regiment on the 
campaign through the Carolinas, and was commissioned as 
such, but it not being his place by regular promotion by 
rank, he refused to muster, and returned to the command of 
l)is compan}^, which was an exhibition of generosity not 
very common in miUtarj' life. 

Charles C. "Wiles was commissioned First Lieutenant and 
assigned to Company " C," and James II. Echelberry to 
Second Lieutenant : both young men of integrity and 
promise. 

The following are the names of the non-commissioned 
officers and enhsted men of the original organization : 



44 



HISTORY OF THE 



SERGEANTS. 

1. Asa C. Cassidy, 3. Robert T. I^elson, 

2. James A. Brown, 4. Alexander Scales, 

5. Cliristoplier Stockdale. 



"William Ross, 
Samuel Bateman, 



CORPORALS. 

5. AYilliam L. Gillogl}^, 
G. Joseph Starrott, 

7. David I'ierce, 

8. George M. Alter. 
Darius T. S. Elliott, Musician, 



Isaac F. Lee, 
James Bellinger, Musician, 

William M. Lauglilin, Wagoner 

PRIVATES. 



Baker, William F. 
Barrett, Edward 
Bethel, Russel 
Baker, Francis R. 
Bagley, Lewis 
Brennen, James 
Baker, James A. 
Boylen, Alpheus B. 
Bryant, David F. 
Bateman, Francis 
Cottonbrook, John 
Culver, Levi 
Crabtree, James 
Cassidy, Edward 
Clark, Alexander 
Combs, James 
Culver, Asa 
Cantwell, John 
Decker, l^Toah II. 
Downer, William 
Donavan, Daniel W. 
Downcrd, Joshua 
E chelberry, James H. 
Flowers, Charles D. 



Fisher, James M. 
Fairchilds, James W. 
Frayer, Robert W. 
Freclinia, Dennis 
Figley, Robert 
Gibaut, Peter 
George, John 
Henry, Michael 
Henry, Frederick 
Hall, George C. 
Hyatt, Jesse 
Hall, Joseph 
Hoskins, Joseph R. 
Howey, Thomas J. F. 
Haines, William 
Hines, James 
James, Cyrus E. 
Jorden, Richard H. 
Jones, John W. 
Lightener, John 
Langau, Frederick 
Mercer, James A. 
Morton, James 
Minor, Thomas J. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. .V. I. 



45 



McGregor, Alexander 
McAdams, Robert 
!McCoy, Joseph H. 
Musselman, Francis 
Marshall, William 1\ 
Pelizaus, Augustus F. 
Perry, George 
Eiley, Aarou 
E,eed, S. J. 
Sanders, Benjamin 
Simpson, Joseph Y 



Smitli, James 
Sylvester, George 
Swank, William 
Swank, George 
Thomas, Mathias 
Winn, B. T. 
Winn, J. M. 
White, Ranson L. 
Watson, James W. 
White, William H. 



H. 



Woods, Samuel 
Yalla, Augustus 

Of the original organization the following have been 
killed in action, or died of wounds and disease : 
Asa F. Lee, Corporal, died. 
Joseph Starrett, " " 

David Pierce, " " 

Asa Culver, Private, " of wounds. 
John Cantwell, " " " 

Charles D. Flowers, Private, died of wounds. 
Robert Figley, " " " 

John W.Jones, " « " 

Alex. McGregor, " " of disease. 

Joseph V. Simpson, " " " 

Ranson L. ^Vliite, " " " 

Augustus Yalla, " " " 

James Morton, kihed at Shiloh, April 7th, 1862. 
William P. Marshall, killed July 22d, 1864. 

The following re-enlisted as veterans January 5th, 1864 : 



Michael Henry, 
Da\'id F. Bryant, 
James Crabtree, 
George W. Sylvester, 
Beujamm H. Sanders, 
Fred. Ilenry, 
John Cottonbrook, 
Robert II, Abbott, 



Joseph K. Hall, 
Francis Musselman, 
Joseph R. Hoskins, 
William Armstrong, 
Levi Gould, 
Charles Hines, 
George C. Hall, 
Jesse Hyatt, 



46 



HISTORY OF TUB 



John Liglitncr, AVilliam 11. White, 

WilUam Swank, Lewis II. Bagley, 

Mathias Thomas, 
William M. Langhlin, killed at Atlanta, July 22(1, 1804. 

The following named recruits, substitutes and drafted 
men have been added to the company since its original 
orijauization : 



^lathew Griffin, 

Samuel Buckingham, 

Arthur Clark, 

James C. Deames, 

Michael Fitzgerald, 

AVilliam A. Fulton, 

Israel D. Fisher, 

Melias Garrell, 

S. "W. Ilardesty, 

David James, 

Charles W. Lee, 

W^illiam T. McDonald, 

Sylvester fiercer, 

Henry Taylor, 

George II. West, 

John Crawford, killed at Atlanta, Ga. 

SUBSTITUTES. 



RECRUITS. 

Marshal Yetman, 
Simeon B. Ivenestetter, 
James Lopal, ^ 
Moses Miser, 
James Bermington, 
Jesse Sutton, 
Isaac Smith, 
G. \i. Sinsebaugh, 
Henry Thompson, 
Jacob G. West, 
Thomas Wilson, 
Adam E. Webl), 
Darius T. S. Elliott, 
Edward Fliger, 



George W. Burwell, 
liobert Bride, 
ITicholas Barrick, 
Timothy Crane, 
Hudson Hall, 
Devin Copeland, 
Jesse W. Divers, 
Wilhani Gilliland, 
James W. Gilbert, 
Bush Ilolloway, 
Lewis Jones, 



David Lawrence, 
Elijah C. Line, 
William Alaple, 
Alfred Holland, 
John Xeat, 
Josiah Rewsee, 
Michael Reeves, 
Alpha R. Stout, 
AViUiam Shillin, 
Solomon Shillin, 
Ferdinand Wolf. 



SFV'EIH'Y-EIQnTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 



47 



George Crowell, 
^Mortimer Hyatt, 
I'reston W. Hubble, 
Thomas Oldham, 



Dennis Fredinia, 
James CV:)mbs, 
rdvvard C. Gimnion, 
T. J. F. Ilowey, 



DEAFTED MEN. 

Joseph Barriok, 
Elijah B. Smothers, 
Emory Smothers, 
William L. Welch. 

DESERTERS. 

William Haines, 
Thomas J. Miner, 
James ^N". McCoy, 
Samuel J. Reed, 
Georo-o Alter. 



Tlie following" have been lionorablj- discharged on account 
of wounds received in action, or disease contraeted while in 
the service : 



FOR DISABILITY. 



Samuel Bateman, 
John A. Launder, 
William L. Gillogly, 
Alpheus I'. Boylan, 
Levi Culver, 
Edward Cassidy, 
Alexander Clark, 
AVilliam Downer, 
Daniel W. I)onovan, 
James M. Fisher, 
Robert W. Frazer, 
Tiichard X. Gordon, 
Frederick Langen, 
James A. Mercer, 



Augustus Pelizaus, 
George Perry, 
James Smith, 
George Swank, 
James W. Watson, 
Samuel Woods, 
James M. Winn, 
Richard T. Winn, 
Richard J. Russell, 
John George, 
David Kelley, 
James D. Willis, 
James Bellinger, 
Deter Gibaut. 



Robert Mc Adams, 

doshuaDownard, promoted to Lieutenant in negro regiment. 

James Brenium, Lieutenant, dishonorably mustered out. 

This company has made a good record, and done much 
hard la])or and good fighting. It has, therefore, snffered 
severely, and lost some noble good men. The iirat man U) 



48 HISTORY OF THE 

fall in battle was from this company. James Morton, of 
Zanesxille, who was struck by a shell and died in a few 
minutes. The present officers of the company are young 
men promoted for gallant conduct. 



This company was raised in Muskingnm and ]\Ioro:au 
Counties, and organized December 21st, 18G1, in C^amp Gil- 
bert, Zanesville, Olno. E. Ilillis Talley was commissioned 
Captain; Benjamin A. Blandy, First Lieutenant ; William 
>>. Harlan, Second Lieutenant. 

These being men of influence, and sustaining a liigh rep- 
Titation in the community in which they hved, in a short 
time, raised a company of tlie best men in their respective 
iK'iglil)orhoods, 

Captain Talk^y was taken side while the regiment was at 
Crump's Landing. He Avas immediately removed to the 
liospital at Savannah, Tenn., where he died April 1st, 1862. 
lie was the first officer of the regiment to fall a sacrifice to 
liis country' ; being a young man of nmch promise, the only 
son of his parents, and loved and esteemed by all who knew 
him, caused his death to 1)0 deeply felt and regretted. Al)out 
this time Lieutenant Blandy resigned, and Lieutenant Har- 
lan was promoted to Captain. Israel C. Robinson, of Com- 
pany " A " was promoted to a Lieutenant and assigned to 
this Company. Captain Harlan's health, through hardships 
and exposure gave way, and after trying the bracing climate 
of the north a few weeks, and the best surgeon's skill, ho 
was necessitated to resign his commission, and quit the ser- 
\icc in February, 1863. Lieutenant Robinson was tlien 
promoted to Captain, and James C. Harris to a Lieutenantcy 

Captain Robinson was promoted to Major at Savannah, 
Ga., and afterward to Lieutenant-Colonel, but did not mus- 
ter on this last commission, because of irregularity in 
its issue. 
4 



50 HISTOKY OF THE 

Lieutenant Harris was mustered out at Savannah, by rea- 
son of explication of term of service, tlie last of December, 
1864. He was a quiet, unassuming and faithful officer, ad- 
mired and loved by all who knew him. 

Lieutenant Andrew McDaniel was promoted to Captain, 
and assigned to the command of Company "D;" John E. 
Edgar, of Company "A," was promoted to First Lieutenant 
and assigned to this company, Milton F. Ward was 
l)romoted to Second Lieutenant in some company. Under 
these officers the company was mustered out of service July 
14th, 1865. 

The following are the names of the non-commissioned 
officers and enlisted men of the original organization : 

SERGEANTS. 

1. James C. Harris, 3. Wm. G. B. :\IcCune, 

2. Simon P. Joy, 4. David F. Sullivan, 

5. Bishop D. Stall. 

CORPORALS. 

1. James Sears, 5. William II. Sullivan,. 

2. James M. Mason, 6. Andrew II. Wallace,. 

3. Henry C. Lanius, 7. Euoch Harlan, 

4. Milton F. AVard, 8. James M. Dutro. 
Horatio White, 2d Musician, George F. Darling, Wagonei 

PRIVATES. 

Arter, Abel Finney, James 

Blackson, John A. Fox, John W. 

Beatty, Bartly France, Thomas B. 

Berry, Michael Fox, W. Tliomas 

Crawford, Henry Frazier, "William J. 

Conn, Levi C. Gay, Robert E. 

Cnnip, James Gay, H. II. 

Coss, Peter Gillespie, Daniel 

Clark, George W. Gibeaut, Charles J. 

Dempster, Albert Gibeaut, Peter 

Dutro, Thonjas AV. Hutfman, William F. 

Edvyards, John Haines, Davis 



gBVENTY-EIGHTH BEGIMENT 0. V. V. I, 



51 



Hall, Thomas J. 
Ilarlau, Thomas J. 
Hewitt, Milton 
Hamilton, John 
Hunt, Albert 
Huffman, Samuel 
Howell, Moses 
Hall, George ^Y. 
Hall, Enos T., sr., 
Huftbrd, John 
Hubbell, Joseph 
Hawkins, McFiren 
Jewett, iSfathan 
Jewett, Daniel 
Joy, Harrison W. 
Jones, Benia 
Kenney, Charles 
Iveune}^, William "W, 
Kenney, George W, 
Kenney, John 
Leach, Charles 
Lee, Samuel 
Lowe, Frank 
McLaughlin, James 



McCune, John 
McGuire, Francis 
Mitchel, Da\ud 
Mason, Charles B. 
MoCallister, Hugh 
McCallister, W. J, 
Osborn, Frederick 
Pake, "William 
Peyton, John Q. A. 
Powell, John 
Quigley, George W. 
Quigly, James F. 
Reed, "Wesley 
Richardson, Levi P, 
Sigars, Philip 
Stotts, ISTathan 
Stotts, Joseph F. 
Smith, George B, 
Squires, George 
Scott, George 
Turner, Leaven 
Vandenbark, George P, 
Wood, Solomon 
Warne, Amaziah 



The following have died of wounds and disease : 
William G, B. McCune, Sergeant. 
George F. Darling, at Bolivar, Tenn. 

James Finney, of wounds received at Champion Hills, Miss. 
William F. Huffman, Savannah, Ga. 
Davis Haines, Bolivar, Tenn. 
David Gillespie, Milton Hewett, 

Albert Hunt, Stony Point, Tenn. 
Charles S, Kenney, Jackson, Tenn. 
William Kenney, Savannah, Tenn. 
McFiren Hawkins, Frank Law. 

Charles B. Mason, wounded at Raymond, Miss. 
Fred. Miller, Memphis, Tenn. 



52 



HISTORY OF THB 



Fred Osborn, Mempliis, Tenn. 

William A. Pake, George B. Smith, 

George Squires. 

James Austin, killed at Champion Hills. 

The following have been discharged, honorably : 
Enoch Harlan, at Shiloh, Tenn. 
James Dutro, Crump's Landing, Tenn. 
Bartly Baity. 

John A. Blackson, Memphis, Tenn. 
Peter Coss. Levi Conn. 

Albert Dempster, Crump's Landing, Tenn- 
Thomas Dutro, 

Albert J. Farnum, " " " 

John Hamilton, " " 

Thomas France, ' " " " 

Peter Gibeaut, " " " 

Peter Gibeaut, jr., 
John Huffiird, 
Joseph Hubb, 
Enos T. Hall, 
Harrison Joy, 
Daniel Jewett, 
George ^Y. Ivenney, 
Charles Leach, 
John Kenney, 
Samuel Lee, 
John Q. A. Peyton, 
George W. Quigley, 
James F. Quigley, 
Wesley Reed, 



Levi P. Richardson, 
Philip Sigars, 
Horatio White, 
Solomon Wood, 
Ilerriott Warne, 
Caleb H. Hall, 
John Heath, 
Eli Scott, 

Charles Woodburn, 
William Neighbors, 
Joseph D. Gardner, 
John ^NlcConaughy, 



Finley Woodburn, 
Francis Maguire. 
The following named recruits, substitutes and drafted 
men have been added to the company : 
James Austin, James Davis, 

John Bird, William Echelberry, 

Lewis Collins, Allen M. Frazier, 

Lemuel Dover, William Harlan, 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 53 

]3enjamiii Harlan, Oliver Perry, 

William R. Jackson, Moses Abbott, 

Joseph E. Peyton, Josbua D. Smitli, (prisoner,) 

Joseph F. Pierce, wounded at Champion Hills. 

Samuel F. Woodburn, Kathaniol Wliite, (discharged) 

William M. ^\liite, (died,) John 11. Young, 

Manley H. Crumbaker, killed at Atlanta. 

George W. McCurdy, Jerome Mathews, 

Robert Cunningham, John Newman, 

Erastus Chileoat, Thomas Parsons, 

Zeuis Dowell, Alfred Sigars, 

Jeremiah Gardner, (disch'ged)IIenry Tipple, 

Joseph Talbott, wounded at Atlanta. 

Jacob Withers, (died,) Oliver B. Crumbaker, 

Francis Godfrey, died of wounds — Atlanta. 

Mcholas Iloosan, Torrence Peyton, (died,) 

Davis Echelberry, (died,) Smith V. D. Howell, 

Hamilton Wallace, Daniel Stahl, 

William A. McConaughy, wounded at Atlanta. 

James C. Stewart, Henry S. Chambers, 

Samuel P. Campbell, killed in battle. 

Isaac G. Xeff, Charles W. Clark, 

Lafayette Davis, Brice S. Taylor, 

Thomas R. Stevenson, discharged on account of wounds. 

Thomas Smith, (died,) James D. Kinney, 

Joseph W. Frazier, Harrison Echelberry. 

DRAFTED. 

Jeiterson Blazier, Lewellen Echelberry, 

David Campbell, Richard P. McGee, (disch'ged) 

Daniel Miller, wounded at Champion Hills. 

James H. Tom, William Hyde, 

James M. Cornelius, Lewis Huiiman, 

Samuel Harper, James Fulton, 

David l!^. Bryan, George Mewliirter, 

Frederick Campbell, Reuben Cromer, 

John Field, William Humphreys, 

Alfred Davidson, Joseph Foreman, 



54 HISTORY or THE 

David M. 'W'ilson, William Jones, 

Daniel Brian, Andrew Jolmson, 

Jesse "Waterberry, (died.) 

SUBSTITUTES. 

Alex, i^airciiilds, Simeon S. Carrol, 

Cyrus Harmart, Clark Toland, 

Joseph Haniel, Henry Simmons, 

Jacob TMce, William Artberton. 

The following re-enlisted as veteran volunteers : 
James A. Seares, Sergeant, Da\nd Sullivan, Sergeant, 
Bishop D. Stab], " Jobn W. Bitler, Corporal, 

James McLaughlin, " Henry C. Lanius, " 

Amaziah Warne, " William J. Frazier, " 

Andrew Wallace, killed bearing regimental colors in battle 

before Atlanta. 
Abel Ai-ter, Charles J. Gibeaut, 

Thomas J, Harlan, James Camp, 

Bush Clark, Robert E. Gay, 

George B. Yanderbark, Heniy H. Gay, 

Tliomas J. Hall, taken prisoner at Atlanta. 
Thomas Huffman, " " 

Moses Howell, (deserted,) Hugh McCallister, 
George Hall, William Pake, 

lN"athaii Jewett, John Powell, 

John McCune, ]N"athan Stotts, (prisoner,) 

David Mitchell, George W. Clark, (deserted,) 

John Eligas Bulger Edwards, deserted. 

This company has sustained itself well. Too much can 
not be said of many of its men. They have done much effi- 
cient service, and suffered severely. Many noble young men 
have been left behind, never to return to gladden the heai'ts 
of their families and fiiends. Always faithful in duty ; it 
never failed in any position assigned it. Prompt, efficient 
and military in its bearing. 

The Captain, J. C. Robinson, was severely wounded at 
Kenesaw Mountain, when leading his men in an attack upon 
a position held by the enemy. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. , 55 

The present officers are men of experience and wlio liave 
been promoted from Sergeants to their present rank. They 
have passed through all the campaigns and battles of the 
regiment. Captain McDaniel was not on the campaigns of 
General Sherman through Georgia and the Carolinas. 

The Lieutenants are men of worth and influence, and have 
done much honor to themselves and the regiment. 



. This Company was raised in i^.Iorgan count}', by T. M. 
Stevenson, "W". W. McCarty and C. M. Eoberts, and was or- 
ganized December 25tli, 1861. T. M. Stevenson was eliosen 
Captain, W. ^y. McCarty, First Lieutenant, and C. ^1. Eob- 
erts, Second Lieutenant. 

On Christmas day the Company went to Camp Gi]l>ert, 
with ninety-four as strong, brave and rehal^le men as ever left 
the county. Tlie great majority Avere the best men of the 
county. Sons of rehgious parents, men of good families, 
school teachers, mechanics, farmers, merchants, clerks, were 
gathered together to go forth from their rich and comforta- 
Ijle homes, to defend those homes by putting down treason 
and rebellion. 

Captain Stevenson had for a number of years been Super- 
intendent of the Public Schools of JSlcConnelsA-ille, and had 
the summer j^revious been licensed a minister of the gospel. 
Lieutenant McCarty had long been a resident of IMcConnels- 
ville, and had filled many of the principal ofiices of the coun- 
ty, whicli made him well acquainted in his county, and gave 
him an influence that caused many worthy men to rally for 
the defense of the flag and lil)erty. 

Lieutenant Roberts had been long engaged in merchandiz- 
ing, which gave him a facility and tact in business, and be- 
ing a young man of good character, influenced many young 
men to imitate his example in laying down all that was dear 
upon his country's altar. 

^o company in the regiment has done more efficient ser- 
vice, none sufl:ered more upon the field of battle, or from 
hardships and exposure. After the battle before Atlanta ou 



SEVE^^TY-EIG^TII REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 57 

tlic 22(1 of July, 18G4, where tlie company and regiment 
(lid such brilliant service, so as to save the day, with a very 
lieavy loss of kihed and wounded, was detailed for duty at 
Headquarters, Seventeenth Army Corps, where it remained 
till mustered out of service. 

At Memphis, Captain T. M. Stevenson resigned his com- 
mission, and was appointed Chaplain of the regiment. Vice 
Chaplain Todd resigned. Lieutenant McCarty was appointed 
Captain, C. M. Roberts,- First Lieutenant, and Sergeant A. 
"W. Stewart, Second Lieutenant. Lieutenant liobcrts was 
detailed for duty in the Signal Corps, in which position ho 
remained through the A^icksburg campaign, and afterwards 
on General Curtis' statl'in Missouri and Kansas, until Janu- 
ary, 1865, when lie was appointed Captain and relieved from 
duty in the Signal Corps, returned to the regiment, and was 
assigned to the command of Company "F." 

Lieutenant A. AV. Stewart was detailed as Aide-de-Camj» 
to General Leggett, June 5th, 1864, wliicli position he filled 
Avith ability and efficiency till the end of the war. 

Captain AV. W. McCart}' was taken prisoner July 22d, 
1864, while in close combat defending the colors and flag of 
the regiment. Lieutenant Ehinehart of Company " G," was 
assigned to the command of the company and remained its 
commander till the end of the \var. Sergeant Alexander Y. 
F. Hager of Company "F," was promoted to Second Lieu- 
tenant, and assigned to Company "E," but was detailed to 
take charge of the Guards of the Third Division Train. 

The following named men have been commissioned and 
assigned to other companies: Sergeant A. A. Adair, to 
Captain ; Sergeant Martin Durant, to Second Lieutenant ; 
Sergeant John Kennedy, to Second Lieutenant ; Sergeant A. 
AV. McCarty, to First Lieutenant; Sergeant James Earich, 
to Second Lieutenant. The latter refused to be mustered, 
preferring to carry the colors which he had borne in so 
many battles. He loved that too dearly to give up bearing 
it for a Lieutenancv. He was awarded a " Medal of Honor," 



HISTORY OF THE 



for distinguislied bravery iu the battle of the 22 1 of July, 

1864. 

The following are the names of the non-commissioned oflS- 
cers and enlisted men of the original organization : 

SERGEANTS. 

1. Archibald "W". Stewart, S. A. Stinchcomb, 

2. (jrco. J. Chappelear, 4. Charles Vi. Brown, 

5. Jasper S. Laughliu. 

CORPORALS. 

1. Robert F. Chandler, 5. Addison A. Adair, 

2. Harrison Townsend, 6. "William 11. Sopher, 
o. George E.McCarty, 7. Abram Wood, 

4. Jacob Rush, 8. Jordan M. ]\Iaular. 

"William George, IstMusicianWm. A. Chappelear, 2d Mus'n 
Daniel Christmau, AV^agoner. 

PRIVATES. 



Amnions, George W. 
Alexander, Thompson 
Bailev, Lcnjamin F. 
Bailej, Christian 
Bailey, James W. 
Bailey, Sylvester 
Bailey, David 
Beisakcr, David 
Barklmrst, John 
Boyd, Cyrus 
Brown, Joseph C. 
Brown, William S. 
Bunn, Fletcher F. 
Bush, Hiram H. 
Coulson, Eli W. 
Coulson, Eli G. 
Christman, William D. 
Coffey, Lewis 
Clawson, John 
Cramblet, Samuel M. 



Davis, Harvey 
Davis, John 
Drake, Henry II. 
Durant, Martin 
Earich, James R. 
Fuller, Chester M. 
Glassford, Fred 
Grubb, Rasselas 
Gallion, George 
Harsh, Goodliif 
Harris, George W. 
Hann, David^F. 
Hayes, John 
Heller, Wilham 
Irwin, Thomas 
Kirby, William 
Kirby, Jolm R. 
Kennedy, John 
Keller, John 
Koon, Sylvester 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 



59 



Lees, Elislia 
Landerman, "William 
Moore, James W. 
Maiilar, George "W". 
Monks, Albert 
Murpliy, "William 
McCarty, Arthur W. 
McElroy, John 
]Morrison, Mathias 
Porter, James D. 
Fletcher, ISToah 
Fletcher, Nicholas 
Fletcher, John W. 
Fvivers, Ethelbert D. 
Rossell, John ]\I. 
Slmtt, Samuel II. 
Smith, John C. 
Sopher, John D. 



Sowers, Job F. 
Shook, William J. 
Southard, Samuel 11. 
Swope, Henry 
Stoneburner, W'illiam AV. 
Thompson, John 
Thompson, John W. 
Tompkins, Benjamin 
Turner, Alonzo 
Vanhorne, John W. 
W^iley, Iliram J. 
W^iseman, Caleb M. 
Williams, Luthur C. 
W' ade, William S. 
W'alraven, Charles 
Whitaker, John II. 
Woodward, Samuel S. 
Youno-, John 



Of the foregoing the following have been honorably dis- 
charged : 
Alex. Stiuchcomb — Sero-eant. Geors-e W^. Mauler 



G. J. Chapelear 
Jacob Bush, Corporal, 
Abram Wood, " 
William Ivearley, 
Albert Monks, 
Ethelbert D. Rivers, 
John Clawson, 
George W. Amnions, 
Samuel II. Shutt, 
Mcholas Fletcher, 
Henry H. Drake, 
Louis Coffee, 
"William Murphy, 



Luther C. Williams, 
Charles Walraven, 
John Davis, 
Samuel H. Southard, 
James D. Forter, 
Sylvester Koon, 
EU G. Coulson, M. D. 
William S. Wade, 
John II. W^iitaker, 
David F. Ilann, 
Cyrus Boyd, 
William J. Chapelear, 
Harrison Drake. 



The following have died of wounds or disease contracted 
in the service : 

Charles W. Brown, Sergeant, Robert F. Chandler, Corporal, 
J. S. Laughlin, Sergeant, Jordan M. Maular, 



60 



HISTORY OF THE 



(christian Bailey, David K. Gallion, 

Jolm D. Soplier, Richard Rilev, 

John W. Thompson, Wilhani S. Bowers, 

Caleb Wiseman. 

DESERTERS. 

Henry Swope, Corporal, Thomas Irwin, 

Cxeo. R. ISIcCarty, Sergeant, John C. Smith, 
Jo1) r. Sowers, Corporal. John Keller. 

The following named men have been added to the com- 
l)any by enlistments, assignments and substitutes : 



George M. Brown, 
^Matthias Bustatter, 
Orlando F. Benton, 
Martin Copse}'^, 
William G. S. Coulson, 
George H. Coulson, 
Samuel Cockran, 
John S. Carver, 
James Coen, 
Louis Coffee, 
John Davis, 
Christian Deeicus, 
Benjamin F. Dozier, 
William Dozier, 
Morris Donahue, 
(icorge Donahue, 
John Durant, 
George Durant, 
Elijah Fergerson, 
John Fetler, 
Louis Fishbaugh, 
Samuel L. Fryar, 
Albert Glassford, 
Daniel Gilpin, 
AVilliam F. Harsh, 
Robert T. Harris, 



Thomas L. Harter, 
Jacob A. Jones, 
Reason Jones, 
Jolm K. Kirby, 
Abel Ivirb}^, 
Adam Keifer, 
George Lemasters, 
Thomas Longstreeth, 
Michael Linder, 
Alvertis Matson, 
Geoge Mitchel, 
Thomas Martin, 
Jolm McElro}^, 
Reuben Ornar, 
Othello Price, 
Osborne Penrose, 
Israel Fletcher, 
James Parsons, 
Henry Quin, 
William F. Rossar, 
Ira Rhodes, 
Jonathan Rainey, 
Marion Ridgely, 
William H. Sutton, 
Jacob A. Sowders, 
James Sloan, 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 



61 



William Smith, 
]^avid Smith, 
Absolem Shinnabeny, 
Edward Stephen, 
Thomas Taylor, 
Joseph Tow, 
Xieholas Swingle, 
Tillman Stoneburner, 
David Stcmlor, 
John 11. AVhitcraft, 
AVilkes r. Wallace, 
John A. Walters, 
Benjamin A. Wylcy, 
John AVilliams, 
J^avid Wright, 
Charles V. Wood, 
Thomas M. Yonng, 
J'eter Emrick, 
Robert T. ]\Ioore, 
John C. Bnssel, 
George S. Coulson, 



Isaac England, 
Alexander Earieh, 
Martin Davis, 
Jacob L. Matson, 
Seaton S. Matson, 
Asa JNIassey, 
John Switzer, 
John C. Brown, 
Leonard J. Bush, 
Benjamin Brown, 
Charles P. Bowers, 
William S. Bowers, 
William Kennedy, 
James S, Brogan, 
John P. Elston, 
John W. Garrett, 
AVashington Sowers, 
Joshna AVliite, 
J'hilip J. George, 
William Weller, 
Peter Ilartsell. 



The following have been killed in battle, or died of 
wonnds or disease : 

William Soplier, Sergeant, killed at Atlanta, 

Benjamine F. Bailey, died of wonnds, at Rome, Georgia.' 

James M. Bailey, died of disease, at Vicksburg. 

Hiram Bush, killed at Atlanta. 

Joseph C. Calvert, taken prisoner. 

George II. Coulson, died of wound, at Marietta, Georgia. 

Henry Davis, taken prisoner. 

James R. Earieh, wounded. 

Samuel Cramlet, wounded, 

John Switzer, 

Rasselas Grubb, killed at Athinta. 

Thomas Harter, killed at Atlanta. 

John AV. Hays, wounded. 

James P. Martzell, taken prisoner. 



62 HISTORY OF THE 

Joshua White, taken prisoner. 

George "W. Harris, killed at Joneshoro, Georgia. 

Robert T. Harris, died of wounds. 

Alonzo Turner, killed at Atlanta. 

John R. Kirby, died of disease. 

!N^athauiel Morrrison, 

Sylvester Bailey, died of wounds. 

William H. Dozier, died of wounds. 

Reason Jones, taken prisoner. 

James Parsons, killed at Atlanta, 

Jacob Beisaker, died of wounds. 

iS'icholas Swingle, missing. 

James M. Moore, sent to West Point for efficiency. 

Robert T. Moore, discharged. 

David Bailey, discharged. 

The following are the names of those who rc-enlisted as; 
veterans : 

Fletcher S. Bunn, George W. Harris, 

William S. Brown, John F. Kennedy, 

Joseph L. Brown, John R. Ivirby, 

Samuel M. Cramlet, A. W. McCarty, 

Daniel Christman, ]\Iathias Morrison, 

William D. Christman, John W. Fletcher, 

Eli W. Coulson, iS"oah Fletcher, 

Harvey Davis, William W. Stoneburner, 

Martin Durant, William J. Shook, 

James Earich, John W. Van Horn, 

George VV. Gallion, Hiram J. Wiley, 

John W. Hays, William J. George, 

James P. Hartzell, Philip J. George, 

John Young. 



Tills company was raised in Muskingum and Guernsey 
counties, by A. L. Wallar, and organized December 25thy 
1861. A. L. Wallar was appointed Captain, Hugh Dunne 
First Lieutenant, and James T. Stor}^ Second Lieutenant. 

Captain Wallar bad some experience in military life, 
having served in the Mexican war. He is a man of good 
appearance, affable address, and a genial companion. 

Lieutenant Dunne is a man of strong energy, ^N-illing 
worker, and decided, independent character. He liad the 
(jualities in request for a good officer. The Captain and 
Lieutenant both had tliosc traits of character which, when 
l)rought together, would not at all times move in harmony. 
They did not see things and look at results in the same light 
and tendency, but understanding each other they moved 
harmc^iiously. 

Lieutenant Story is a man of a happy, contented mind, 
affable manners, and jovial nature, which made him exceed- 
ingly popular with his men. Adaptation to circumstances, 
and a knowledge of how to make the most of every thim;', 
strongly marked his character. A pleasant cheerfulness 
dwelt with liim and was communicated to all with whom he 
came in contact. 

Captain Wallar, in December, 1864, was commissi cnied a 
Lieutenant-Colonel, which he declined. His term of throe 
years service having expired, he was mustered out in Janu- 
ary, 1865. Lieutenant Dunne was promoted to Captain in 
the spring of 1864, and assigned to Company "K," which 
}»osition he occupied till after the fall of Atlanta. At thi« 
time he had only two months to seiwe, and his cixcumstanocR 



G4 HISTORY OF THE 

at liomc demanded liis immediate attention to sncli an 
extent that lie resigned his commission, left the service, and 
settled down in the pcacefnl pnrsnits of domestic happiness. 

Lien tenant J. T. Story, a year previous being promoted 
to First Lieutenant, was Acting Adjutant of the regiment 
on the campaign through the Carolinas, Lieutenant tSearch 
being detailed as Adjutant-General of the brigade. Upon 
the arrival of the army at Goldsboro, oST. C, Lieutenant 
Story received a Captain's commission, ])ut refused to l)c 
mustered, and resigned and went home to recuperate his 
broken constitution. 

Captain C. M. Eoberts was assigned to Company '* F,"' 
where he remained but a few weeks. He being an officer 
of line appearance and correct business habits', was detailed 
on General Blair's staff, as Connnissary of Musters for the 
Seventeenth Army Corps. 

Sergeant Joseph Miller, of " G " company, was promoted 
to First Lieutenant, and assigned to " F " comi)any ; ]Mar- 
tin Durant, Sergeant of " E " company, was promoted to 
Second Lieutenant, and assigned to " F " company. Both 
young men of good miUtary knowledge and attainments, 
imyieldiug patriotism, and faithfulness in the discliarge of 
all duties, made them very acceptal)le officer, and^thcir 
promotion very desirable and well deserved. This is one 
of the commendable traits of military life, when free from 
selfish interest : it finds out the efficient and meritorious, 
and rewards and honors them accordingl3^ 

'No other change was made in the officers of Company 
" F " till the muster-out of the regiment. 

The following are the names of the non-commissioned 
officers and enlisted men of the company at its original 
organization : ^ 

SERGEANTS, 

1. Samuel II. Vaidcirk, 3. Henry II. Smith, 

■2. Alexander V. P. Ilagcr, 4. Milton B. Thomas, 
5. Humphrey A. McDonald. 

CORPORALS. 

L Isaiah B. Case, 2. Benjamin F. Tiulor, 



EEVElfTY-ElGIITn EEGIMENT 0. V. Y. L 



65 



3. Francis M. Story, 6. Thomas Hopes, 

4. Peter "VV". Sturtz, 7. Henry Berklieimer, 
a. Riekard A. disk, 8. William. Allen. 

J no. W. Biirwell, 1st Music'n, Jas. Thos. Bay, 2d Muskiaa 
William Garges, Wagoner. 



pan'ATis. 



Bay, Matthew W. 
Barnes, Orville 0. 
Browu, Silas W. 
Bucksenschultz, John. J. 
Buker, John 
BovvTiian, George 
Bedell, Albert 
Bowrden, William 
Boyor, rcrcival 
Buckscuschultz, William 
Cook, Thomas W. 
Crane, John 
Culbertsou, Alex. 
Davis, John 
Davis, Peter 
Dearnbarger, Lewis 
Drummoud, William 
Dickason, Richard 
Esehman, Michael 
Gibbons, Philip 
Gault, William 
Hanson, Robert 
Ilurrel, Samuel 
Herron, Hugh 
Harper, George 
ila<iden, William 
Hammond, Levi 
Hubert, Henry 
Johnston, Henry 



Johnston, Abram 
Jenkins, Clinton 
Leisure, Lenhai't 
Lemmon, James 
Lynch, Orrin 
ISlcCali, John H. 
^iuilin, James 
Moorehead, Jesse 
j\Ioorehead, Josepli 
MeCuiie, John 
J^IcBjnnej^, Joseph E. 
J^ewell, John A. 
Oliver, John 
Rogerig, Hiraia 
Rogers, Robert G. 

Rogers, Thomas 

Rujiion, George W. 

Runion, Andrew J. 

R union, Joel 

Rifjlmrdson, Joseplr 

Redd, James A. 

Snyder, John 

8in.?ahaugh, David 

Sturtz, Dcnnison G. 

St. Clan-, Samuel H. 

iSniith, Dav^d 

Smith, Albert 

Storer, John 

Taylor, Samuel 



66 



HISTOKY OF THE 



Taylor, James 
Tanner, John W. 
Urban, Solomon 
Vankirk, Joseph 
Vernon, Edward S. 
Vernon, Nicholas 
Vernon, William A. 
Wine, John J. 



West, Wesley 
Waters, WiUiam C. 
Wilson, Edward C. 
Wilson, Joseph F. 
Wymer, Alfred 
Wylie, John C. 
Wall, Lewis II. 



Zimmerman, John 
The following named enlisted men have been promoted 
to the rank set opposite their respective names: 
Sergeant Samuel II. Vankirk to Captain. 

" Alex. V. P. Hager to Second Lieutenant. 
" II. A. McDonald to First Lieutenant. 
Corporal Thomas W. Hopes to First Lieutenant. 
" Albert G. Gault to Second Lieutenant. 
. " John J. Wine to Second Lieutenant. 
Li the autumn of 1862 the following named enlisted men 
were added to the company : 



!Moses Abbott, 
David Cherry, 
Albert G. Gault, 
Charles Ilolcomb, 
Abram Jackson, 
Peter B. Lane, 
John A. ]\IcI\inney 
John Iv. MclN"arv, 



Oliver C. Story, 
Arthur D. Simpson, 
Andrew G. Scott, 
Dennis Sturtz, 
John Tremble, 
Alex. II. AVliite, 
Elijah Wortman, 
James L. Wortman, 
Samuel Spragne. 

The following recruits, substitutes and drafted men Avcre 
added to the company in October, 1803 : 



George II. Eclielberry, 
(icorge Ivearnes, 
Thomas Ilufiman, 
Barnett Adamson, 
Even J. Buker, 
( \alcb Buker, 
Samuel J. Paxton, 



Archibald Bradford, 
Josiah K. Clorr, 
Alonzo Conwa}'-, 
Zachariah Xolon, 
David Xorman, 
Thomas A. I'almer, 
Peter Perrin^, 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 



67 



David W. Shaffer, 
David A\". Sprague, 
:SIartiii Y. Todd, 
"William Slaughter, 
Joseph Smith, 
Simeon Swauk, 
Thomas A. Stone, 
Leander Trushell, 
Archibald Ankrom, 
Edward Allen, 
William Gardner, 
Morgan Cornelius, 
Samuel Cox, 



Henry Cox, 
Theodore Coleman, 
William II. Goulding, 
Porter English, 
William Green, 
James Ilamriek, 
William W. Ilarrold, 
James Ilolcomb, 
William Humphrey, 
William McNaught, 
Adam Philabaum, 
George Vickars, 
Crawford Viekars. 



The following named enlisted men re-enlisted as veterans 
Jaiiuarv oth, 18G4 : 



Peter W. Sturtz, 
Isaiah B. Case, 



John II. MeCall, 



8ERGEAXTS. 

Edward S. Vernon, 
William Iladden, 
William P. Gault. 

CORPORALS. 

Samuel J. Taylor, 
Orvillc O. Barnes. 



PRIVATES. 



James T. Bay, 
Henry Birkheimer, 
James Caldwell, 
John H. Crane, 
Pichard II. Cusick, 
Samuel Ilnrrell, 
Alexander Culbertson, 
Peter Davis, 
James Galiher, 
Lewis Iluffnuui, 
Abiram Johnson, 
Williiiiii C. Garges, 



Joseph Moorehead, 
Jesse Moorehead, 
Joseph E. AIcKinno}', 
James A. Redd, 
Thomas Rogers, 
Andrew J. Runnion, 
Joel Runnion, 
David II. Sinsabaugh, 
William C. Waters, 
Robert Hanson,. 
Alfred Wymer, Sergeant, 
I'hillip Gibbons, " 



68 



HISTORY OP THE 



The following have been discharged I'or disahilitj, con- 
tracted in the service, and wounds : 



Percival Bojer, 
Silas W. Brown, 
John Bueksenschultz, 
John ^y. Burweli, 
John Buker, 
William Bowden, 
Thomas W. Cook, 
John Davis, 
Lewis L. Dearnbarger, 
AVilliam Dnimmond, 
Michael Eschman, 
Hugh Herron, 
James Lemmon, 
eTohn A. Newell, 
Oeorge W. Runnion, 
Joseph Richardson, 



John Stover, 
Samuel A. St. Clair, 
David Smith, 
Henry C. Smith, 
William A. Vernon, 
AVesley West, 
Edward C. Wilson, 
Lewis AVall, 
David C. Ilager, 
Samuel 11. Johns, 
James B. McDonald, 
John Pv. Scott, 
Joseph W. Miller, 
Albert T. Sprague, 
Joseph B. Vankirk, 



John Buker, sr., 
George Bradford. 

The following have died of disease and wounds : 

Erancis M. Story, Sergeant, William Bucksenschute, 



William All'en, Corporal, 
Richard Dickason, 
Robert C. Rogers, 
Albert Smith, 



George Bowman, 
John ISIcCune, 
Dennison G. Sturtz, 
Kicholas A^n-non, 



Joseph F, Wilson, Corporal, John B. Atchison, 



Ilobert Bell, 
Benjamin Co noway, 
C^hristopher Crothei^, 
Samuel Ilurrel, 
Samuel T. Morrow, 
Minor Pryor, 
Philip Shaffer, 

KILLED IX BATTLE. 

Oliver C. Story, Raymond, Miss. 
Corpoi-al John Oliver, Atlanta, Ga. 



James Atchison, 
Williani Carroll, 
Jasper Halsey, 
Levi Hammond, 
James E. l*]'otzman. 
Perry Sprague, 
Jonathan Whitakcr, 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 69 

Lieutenant Jolm J. Wine, ISIillikon's Bend, La. 
James Taylor, Champion Hills, Miss. 
Jolm Tremble, Atlanta, Ga. 
Joel liunnion, near ^lillen, Ga. 
Sergeant I'liillip Gibbons, Atlanta, Ga. 
Kobert Hanson, died a prisoner. 
The following have deserted : 

Henry Herbert, Orrin Lynch, 

George Harper, James ]\Inllen, 

Lenhart Leasure, Solomon Urban, 

John C. Wylie. 

The following have beon transferred to Invalid Corps : 
Jason A. Barnard, Hiram Rogers, 

John A. McKinnov, diseh'o-ed John Zimmerman. 

This was one of the most ethcient companies in the army. 
A better skirmish company never went in advance of 
troops. It has lost some of the very best men that ever 
carried a musket. 



"Was raised in Miiskiiigum and JSToble conntie?, and was 
organized Jannary 11th, 18G2. Peter Gcbliart was eliosen 
Captain, J(3hn W. A. Gillespie First Lieutenant, and Joseph 
0. Jenkins First Lieutenant. 

Captain Gebliart's health failing him, was soon compelled 
to resign and go home. 

Lieutenant Jenkins becoming dissatisfied witli military 
life — disliking its liardships, dangers and exposures, and 
seeing no way to escape so much sacrifice as the true faith- 
ful soldier must necessarily make, except to assume the 
responsibility and abide the consequences of his own inde- 
pendence — therefore (piit the service of his own accord, and 
is consecpiently marked a <h'scf(cr. The writer is not in- 
formed of the justice or injustice of the charge, but merely 
gives the assertion of the records. Lieutenant Gillespie was 
then appointed Captain of the company ; Jesse Patterson 
First Lieutenant, and Sergeant Iret Kinehart Second Lieu- 
tenant. 

Under these officers the company did efficient service ; 
was under good discipline, and did honor to its officers and 
regiment. The company liad many noble and good men — 
men who were willing to stand by the flag of their country 
to the last extremity. 

Lieutenant Patterson was mustered out of service at Lake 
Providence, Louisiana. He was a good, faithful and efficient 
officer. lie was by no means an intemperate man, but the 
tempter getting the victory over him once, and for this single 
offence, not repeated, we have heard, was mustered out. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. Y. V. I. 71 

The same closeness would have mustered out one-half of 
the officers of the army. This circumstance shows the 
•trict discipline of the Seventy-Eighth Eegiment. 

Lieutenant Eliinehart was promoted to First Lieutenant 
December 19th, 1863. Captain Gillespie having served his 
three years with much honor and great faithfulness, was 
mustered out of service early in January, 1865, at Savan- 
nah, Ga. Lieutenant lihinehart was promoted to Captain; 
Alfred Wymer, of Company " F," to First Lieutenant and 
assigned to Company "G;" Sergeant Cyrus H. Gardner 
was promoted to Second Lieutenant: promotions well de- 
served and well honored. They were both young men of 
large military experience and correct habits, and make very 
efficient officers. 

'So other changes were made in the officers of the com- 
pany during its term of service. This company has a good 
record, and sustained a high reputation in the regiment. 

The following are the names of the non-commissioned 
officers and enlisted men of the original organization : 

SERGEANTS. 

1. William C. Simmons, 3. Samuel Hally, 

2. Jesse Patterson, 4. Fred Boach, 

5. Peter B. Lupardus. 

CORPORALS. 

1. Samuel Fowler, 5. Michael Stewart, 

2. John Haze, 6. John E. Hunt, 

3. Caleb Mercer, 7. Owen Morgan, 

4. William J. Anderson, 8. Cyrus H, Gardner. 

John F. Fenton, 1st Masician,Winiam Gibson, 2d Musician, 
George W. Gillespie, Wagoner. 

PRIVATES. 

Arnet, Charles Bond, Jeremiah 

Ai-cher, Wilson Bash, George 

Armstrong, William Carpenter, Thomas 

Armstrong, Wilber F. Carpenter, John C. 

Beasley, Henry Cusac, Jacob 



T2 

CoTven, Joseph P. 
Pixson, Joseph 
Bayid, Robert A. 
Deaver, James 
Ellis, Edward 
Fowler, William. 
Fogle, Iliram 
Fogle, Elijah 
Fowler, Immer 
Frj, William F. 
Gebhart, Samuel H, 
Gatehel, Joseph 
George, Philip 
Gonid, Levi 
Gibson, John 
Grimes, William J, 
QafFiiej, Martin 
Hinds, Charles 
Ilaiiscll, James P> 
Hickle, Elisha D. 
Halter, Fraocis C. 
Hill, Daniel J. 
JohnsoQ, Georg-e W. 
Johns, George W. 
Lindsay, C. W. 
Lindsay, Charles 
Lindsay, Aqailla 
Little, Kelsey 
Mercer, Job T. 



HISTORY OF THE 



Mercer, Thomas 
Mercer, David 
Mercer, George W. 
Mercer, Andrew 
Mulnix, Owen 
Morris, Lewis 
Miller, Joseph 
Morgan, Lewis 
McClary, Samuel 
McFerren, John W. 
Morgan, Georg-e W^. 
Purkoy, Aaron S. 
Porter, Frank 
Robinson, Jolin W, 
Roach, Henry M. 
Rnssell, Ebenezer 
Rhinehart, Iret 
Spiker, Henry 
Stinehcoml), John W- 
Savely, Augustus 
Treaner, Jacob 
Trout, Samuel E. 
Trimble, John 
Vandyke, John 
Tan Meter, James S. 
Vore, Martin 
Weller, William J. 
Wheeler, David 



Yaw, Oliver P. 
Tlie company's accession in the autumn of 1862, and 
again in 1864, were filled up with recruks, substitutes and 
drafted men. We have not the records to give them all 
correctly, nor to distioaguish them from one another. 
Alfred Lippett, Reason St. Clasr, 

Barnard Johnson, Samuel St. Clair, 

Charles W. Spiker, Eden St. Clair, 

Armon Wilcox, William Wyrreli, 



SEVENTY-EIGHTn REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 



73 



Geors;e P. Stouebiirner, 



David I\. Yaw, 



Abram Stitts, 
Iliram Atkinson, 
Lewis Balcy, 
James F. Bond, 
David 0. Brill, 
George Butts, 
Asa Perry, 
Lorain Bigford, 
Ilarman Bates, 
Taylor Geary, 
James Graham, 
William Halley, 
Jacob ITagan, 
Alex. W. Ilumplireyi 
Conrad Harmon, 
A. Knight. 
William B. Long, 
Simon Morris, 
James H. Moore, 
William S. Miller, 
Johnson Ruby, 
Xelson Rybnor, 



Peter Van Dyke, 
John Van Dyke, 
Jacob Cove, 
David Denius, 
Adam Denius, 
■Solomon F. Dennis, 
John Dennis, 
Solomon F. Ileskett, 
. James F. Ilinton, 
Lyman J. Johnson, 
William Yint, 
William Little, 
James AY Mackey, 

, Leonard ALirlan, 

E.ol)ert Peacock, 
Daniel Richeson, 
William Rockwell, 
John B. Stewart, 
Enoch M. Stout, 
Irwin Williamson, 
Samuel AVilliamson, 
Smidley AYilliams, 

William Richer. 



SUBSTITUTES 

Henry Bunton, 
Thomas Carney, 
Henry Carter, 
Samuel Davidson, 
Josiah Farnsnough, 
Wheeler W. Heath, 
James Kneipper, 
Garry AIcQuilty, 
David W. Pierce, 
Samuel W. Shaw, 
Benjamin Beach, 
Ezra Bond, 



AND DRAFTED MEN. 

Alonzo Earhart, 
John ^. Fry, 
Isreal Hart, 
Jacob Looker, 
William Miller, 
Samson Peppers, 
Adam Swab, 
Charles Butterfield, 
Smith Simpkins, 
Nathan Welloughby, 
William Bucher, 
Ramsey Smith, 



74 



HISTORY OF THE 



Isaac Dickson, 



Jolmatlian Waits, 



The following re-enlisted as veterans 

SERGEANTS. 

Frank Porter, J. Fowler, 

James S. Yanmeter, David A. Robert, 

David B. Mercer. 

CORPORALS. 



Caleb M. fiercer, 
David Wheeler, 
Kelsey Little, 

.Joseph Dickson, 
John II. Fenton, 
Joseph Gatchel, 
Harry Roach, 



Charles W. Lindsey, 
Aaron S. Burkey, 
John II. Gibson. 

PRIVATES. 

Martin Yore, 
^Samuel E. Trout, 
Hiram Fogle, 
William F. Fry, 
George W. Robinson. 
A large number of the names in the veteran organization 
cannot he obtained. 

The following named men have been discharged for disa- 
bility: 



Frederick Roach, 
John Hays, 
Owen Morgan, 
Wilson Archer, 
J)avis Brill, 
Jacob Cusick, 
James Deaver, 
Elijah Fogle, 
Peter B. Lupardus, 
AYilliam Fowler, 
William J. Anderson, 
Henry Beasley, 
Thomas Carpenter, 



Samuel II. Gebheart, 
George W. Gillespie, 
William Gibson, 
George W. Johnson, 
Owen Mulnix, 
Lewis Morris, 
Henry Spiker, 
John Trimble, 
John Yan Dyke, 
Job T. Mercer, 
Franklin Halter, 
Lewis Morgan, 



Eden St. Clair, 
Samuel Ilalley. 
The following named men are marked deserters: 
William C. Simmons, William J. Grimes, 

David Denius, Daniel J. Hill, 



SEVENTY-EIGIITU REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 



i'O 



ffoliii Dcnins, 
^rartin Gafroy, 
James F. Hintoii, 
A. Kniglit, 
Samuel McClearj, 
Ebenezer Russell, 
^\''illiam Buclier, 
Eiioeli M. IStout. 
«Tamcs AVlieelcr, 
Aaron Williams, 
"WilLer F. Armstrong, 
El wood Ellis, 



Lyman J. Johnson, 
AVilliam Little, 
James IL Moore, 
Daniel Iliclieson, 
John AV. Stinchcomb, 
Jacob Treamer, 
Michael Stewart, 
John W. McPherson, 
Charles Arnct, 
Jeramiah Bond, 
George Butts, 
"William Ilallev. 



James Stilty, 
Francis I'orter, 
Joseph Cowen, 
Bobert Peacock, 

AYilliam Armstrong, 
George Bash, 
Philip J. George, 



KILLED IX BATTLE. 

Samuel Fowler, 

Lewis Bowley, 

Taylor Geary, 

Henry M. Poach, missing. 

TRANSFERRED. 

. Peter Ilartsell, 
William Wellin, 
Charles Liudsev. 



COMlFAlsnr H. 

"Was raised, in Guernsey county by Jolm T. Rainey, and 
organized January — , 18(32. John T. Rainey was a|)point- 
cd Captain, John F. Grimes First Lieutenant, and John 
Orr Second Lieutenant. 

The company was composed of a noljle, roljust ehiss of 
men, ready and able for any duty and difficult work. In 
no company in the regiment was there a greater spirit of 
contentment, mirth and cheerfuhiess. Every evening in 
Compaaiy " II " w^ould be heard the merry songs of happy 
voices, echoing throughout the camp. The company always 
took a cheerful part in the numerous battles and campaigns 
of the regiment, and has lost many fine noble men in battle 
and by disease. It has highly honored patriotic Guernsey, 
and made a proud record in the history of the war. 

Captain Rainey was a lawyer of C^imbridge, and a favor- 
ite generally with men. His disposition was such as to 
.make liim popular with his company, and the regiment 
generally ; having much energy, some military experience — 
having served in the Mexican war — and being naturally a 
jovial, free, social man, made him, as supposed by the regi- 
ment, eminently fitted for ^lajor of the regiment, to which 
position he was chosen at Grand Junction, Tenn., and 
received his commission afterwards at Memphis, prior to 
its entrance on the Vicksburg campaign. He commanded 
the regiment with great ability and acceptance through the 
battles of Port Gibson, Raymond and Jackson, Miss. Ou 
the morning of the commencement of the battle of Cham- 
pion Hills, Lieutenant-Colonel Wiles took command of the 
regiment, Major Rainey assisting him. At the investment 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 77 

of Vicksbiirg by General Grant's army, Major Raincy was 
detailed on General Leggett's staft' as Assistant Inspector 
General, in which position lie remained until after the fall 
of Atlanta, when he resigned his commission and left the 
service. 

Lieutenant Grimes' health so far failed as to compel h.im 
to quit the service. lie therefore resigned his commission 
after the battle of Shiloh, went home, and soon died of 
disease contracted in the service. lie was a young man of 
fine attainments and moral worth, and })romised to be a 
very efficient officer. 

Lieutenant Orr was promoted to First Lieutenant and 
Sergeant AYm. Dodds to Second Lieutenant. The latter 
a-esigned at Memphis, in February, 1862. Lieutenant Orr 
was appointed Captain, and Sergeant Josiah Scott First 
Lieutenant. Lieutenant Scott was a noble, Christian young 
anan, and beloved not only by bis company, but l)v all the 
regiment. lie was a cbeerfid, social and pleasant young- 
officer. When the regiiuent wa^s encamped at Vicksburg 
lie obtained a leave of absence and went liome to visit his 
family, where he was taken ill with the small-p'^x and died. 
His death was much regretted and deeply lamented by liis 
compan}' and the regiment. 

Sergeant Henry Speer, of "A" company, was promoted 
to Second Lieutenant, and assigned to "II" company, in 
^November, 1803. He was a young man of good morals, 
very CiTicient in all he did. His promotion was one of 
merit and honor. He served faithfully in his company till 
at Atlanta, in the battle of the 22(1 of July, lie was severely 
wounded, making amputation of his arm necessary. He 
was sent homo, where he died shortly after, in consequence 
of his wounds. 

Captain Orr remained in command of the company till 
danuary, 1865, when his threes-ears' service expiring, ho 
was honorably nutetered out. He was a very jovial, pleas- 
ant and good officer. He was cheerful in camp, and brave 
almost to a fault in battle. On the 22d of July, in the 



78 HISTORY OF THE 

over memorable battle before Atlanta, lie killed a rebel 
with his sword, who had hold of the colors of the regiment. 
He fought with the most desperate bravery in personal 
combat in preventing the capture of the flag. Captain 
Joseph Orr lived in single blessedness till adyanced in his 
forties, having obtained a comfortable living, and more 
than a competency to maintain a family. He finally, after 
much exhortation from the Chaplain and his Colonel, 
repented of the sin of living an old bachelor, corrected and 
reformed his life by marrying a wife. 

Lieutenant Springer, of Company " C," was promoted 
to a Cai)tain, and assigned to Company " II," but still 
remained on General Leggett's statf, in charge of the 
Division Ambulance Train. This position he had filled 
with great efficiency and acceptance. 

John r, Ross, Sergeant-Major of the regiment, was 
promoted to First Lieutenant, and assigned to Company 
" II," and had command of the company till the muster- 
ont of the regiment. He was one of those " few and far 
l)etween " very best of young men ; of high Christian integ- 
rity, of good attainments, efficiency and close attention to 
his business, that made him an officer of much success, 
acceptance and ability. 

Sergeant Robert H. Brown was promoted to Second 
Lieutenant. He was also a good young man, and an effic- 
ient officer, and worthy of every trust and honor given him. 

The following is the list of the non-commissioned officer* 
and enlisted men of the original organization : 

SERGEANTS. 

1. William A. Hodds, 3. David Rainey, 

2. Josiah Scott, 4. "WiUiam Caliban, 

5. Robert Brown. 

CORPORALS. 

1. David McMillen, 4. Gabriel H. Fcister, 

2. John A. Johnson, o. David T. Caldwell, 
S. Samuel Xelson, G. Leander Scott, 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 



70 



7. Levi Johnson, 8. Ilezekiah Hyatt. 

kSliadric Turner, Musician. John T, Allen, Wagoner. 

PRIVATES. 

Kened}', Benjamin 



Alexander, John 
Bichard, P. S. 
Barnett, Jacob 
Burns, Joshua 
Black, James II. 
Beam, Daniel 
Britton, Robert 
Berry, James 
Cochran, Thomas 
Casey, Samuel 
Clipner. David 
Clipner, John 
Camp, WiUiam T. 
Camp, John W. 
Cook, John B. 
Craig, John 
Cockrel, George 
Dunifer, John 
Dawson, James 
Dillahey John, 
Donalson, Joshua 
Gill, Joseph 
Gill, Elijah 
George, Price C. 
Johnson, ISTathaniel 
Ilndson, James 
Hunter, Jolin 
Hutchison, Nicholas 
Ilaynes, Jolm 
Hartshorn, Thomas 
Hendrick, Rufus 

Kimble, William 
Kimble, Robert 
King, Benjamin 



Keown, Robert 
Kimble, George 
Kimble, George W. 
• Linton, Samuel 
Lake, William 
McBurney, Charles 
McDonald, Finley 
Mitchell, George V. 
McBurney, William 
Miller, Lewis 
Mitchel, David 
]Murpliy, Lafayette F. 
^Miller, James M. 
Miligan, Alexander F. 
McBurney, James 
Paden, Dallas 
Powell, John W. 
Shriver, Adam G. 
Stevenson, George W. 
Scott, Robert 
Sigman, Isaac 
Stevenson, Alexander 
Schuyheart, Isaac 
Thompson, Abram 
Thompson, Archibald L. 
Turner, James 
Turner, James A. 
Tucker, Joseph 
Voorhers, Joshna 
Voorhers, Lewis 
Williams, William P. 
Wilson, Robert 
White, Reese 
White, Elisha 



80 



HISTORY OF THE 



The fi)!! owing named recruits were added to tlie company 

in the autumn of 18G2: 

Francis Scott, Alexander L. Blair, 

Henry Aloves, Edward Hall, 

William M. Barber, James Culberson. 

In the winter of 1863-4 the following named recruits for 

three years w^ere added : 

Edward R. Dunifer, 
Robert Hoover, 
Willliam M Stage, 
Laban Sigman, 
Rolla Sigman. 
The follow^ing named substitutes and drafted men were 

added to the list : 

James Mathers, 
John Mooney, 
Jeremiah McBride, 
]N'athan McElfresh, 
John W. Nebert, 
Lewis Ours, 
John P. Pastors, 
John P. Reddick, 
Miller Tilton, 
Samuel C. Turner, 
Samuel Vinsel, 
Reese White, 
Albert P. Wilbert, 
John Waters, 
David Warner, 
James K. Walston, 
James Wellington, 
Jolm M. Ilaugh, 
Joseph Young, 
James M. Lucas. 
In January, 1864, the following named men re-eulisted as 

veterans to serve three years more : 

Robert 11. Brown, James II. Black, 

Jacob Barnett, Joshua B arris, 



George M. Bramlett, 
flames V. P. Britou, 
William Ball, 
Thomas M. Clark, 
Alexaaider Clark, 



flames B. Allen, 
flames E. Arnold, 
Joseph R. Black, 
(ieorgeR. Baughman, 
Samuel H. Bartholomew, 
floseph M. Brown, 
flonathan iST. Brown, 
James Collins, 
Washington Darling, 
Ezeriah Dermy, 
Ruman Gorman, 
William S. Green, 
William Hastings, 
Casabine Ilaw^k, 
Joseph Heft, 
Joseph Herles, 
John Jarvas, 
James C. Keltner, 
Christopher Lindsey, 



eEVENTY-EKJIITII REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 



81 



James Berrv, 
AVilliam ll/Callaliaii, 
Thomas Cocliraii, 
John Clipucr, 
James Dossan, 
Elijah Gill, 
Price C. George, 
Charles McBurney, 
James McBurney, 



Jolm ^V. Powell, 
Da\i(l B. liainey, 
Isaac Simian, 
Kobert B. Scott, 
Adam G. Shriver, 
George W. Stevenson, 
James Turner, 
James A. Turner, 
Abram Thompson, 
Eliliu AVhite. 



Lafayette Murphy, 

The following have been discliarged for disability : 



John T. Allen, 
AVilliam M. Barker, 
John Craig, 
John Dunifer, 
John Dillahe}', 
Elijah Gill, 
llezekiah Hyatt, 
Xicholas Hutchinson, 
Thomas Ilartson, 
John A. Johnson, 



William T. Jones, 
Benjamin Kennedy, 
Beujamin King, 
Samuel Linton, 
David Mitchel, 
Lewis Miller, 
James Miller, 
Samuel jSTelson, 
"William J. Sopher, 
Archibald L. Thompson, 
Peter Williams. 



The following named soldiers of Company "• II " have 
died of vrounds, and disease contracted in the service : 

Lieutenant Josiah Scott, Lieutenant John F. Grimes, 

Lieutenant Ilenry Speer. 
John Alexander, killed at Atlanta. 
James Aloves, killed on railroad. 
James B. Allen. Daniel Beam. 

Daniel Caldwell, died at Savannah, Tenn. 
John W. Camp. George Cochran. 

William T. Camp. Joshua Donelson. 

James Culbertson. Gabriel Fields. 

James Hudson, died of wounds received at Champion Hills. 
John Hunter. John Ilayncs. 

6 



82 HISTORY OF THE 

^'atlian Johnson. 

William Kimble, killed at Atlanta, July 22d, 1864. 
Kobert Kcown. JoLn Milliken. 

William Lake, died of wonnds, Marietta, Ga. 
David McMillen, died of wounds, Champion Hills. 
William McBride, killed at Champion Hills. 
Dallas Dadem Gcorgo P. Mitchell, deserted. 

Alex. F. Miliken. Jeremiah ^McBride. 

Leander Scott, died at Bolivar, Tenn. 
Adam G. Shriver, killed at Atlanta, July 22d, 1864. 
Alexander Stevenson, died at Shiloh, Tenn. 
James Sleeth. James Schnyhart. 

James Turner, killed at Atlanta, Ga. 
Shedrack Turner. Joshua Yoorhes. 

Lewis A'corhes. 



CO^.IPAIXY I. 

This compftiiy wns raised in Colambiana County by 
Andrew Scott, Chaplain Todd, John B. Mills, and S. A. 
DeWolf, and organized January 11th, 1862. Andrew 
Scott was appointed Captain, John B. Mills First Lieu- 
tenant, and S. A. DeWolf Second Lieutenant. 

The company was made up of as fine a class of men as 
ever entered the service — the best that ever left the county. 
The religious clement was strong in the company; the men 
were of the wealthy families of the county, well educated, 
and representing every branch of trade and business. The 
company suffered much from disease, and in battle; its ver^'" 
best young men have fallen. Especially has it been true of 
this company, the fact observed by so many, and noticeable 
in every company in the regiment, " that the arrow of death 
is mysteriously select in the choice of its victims:" choosing 
most generall}^ the best men. Those whom we regret most 
to spare, and give up most unwillingly ; men the most 
exemplary and uptight, the most useful and best loved in 
the company, and at home. 

Some of the men in Company "I" have filled important 
positions in the regiment, and at Division, Corps and 
Department headquarters. Very little of the rowdy element 
was found in this company. Their ofiieers were men of 
Christian integrity. Captain Scott was a member of the 
Presb}i:erian Church, and by h's influence called many 
such to go with him. The Ca})tain was a good, jolly, social 
man, which made him popular, and his company pleasant. 
Xo man except Captain AVilson exercised a more watchful 
care over his men. AVhen divine services were lield in the 



84 HISTORY OF THE 

regiment, the Captain was always present, and tlie majority 
of liis men were with liim. The Captain was a little wrong 
in his political theory, but all right in his practice. Old 
prejudices ajid education gave him a leaning toward Yallan- 
dingham and the disloyal party of the North, hut diminislied 
nothing of his hatred for secession, and weakened none of 
liis efforts to pvit it down, and destroy the last armed rebel 
against the Government. lie did not like the Administra- 
tion, but that mattered not as long as he ^\i\s willing to 
defend it with the sword, and co-operate with it in the 
suppression of rebellion ; and as form is nothing, but execu- 
tion everything, we can forgive the Captain's mistaken 
theories on politics, since his action and conduct opposed 
those theories, and prevented him not from going forth and 
nobly sustaining his country's Hag. 

Lieutenant Mills, of whom mention has been made in 
connection with Company "C," was a young man of decided 
influence and most excellent character, and did much by 
way of influencing many young men to enlist in their 
country's service. He was generally popular with his men, 
and throughout the regiment. A man of strong sympathies 
and tender feelings, and no one did more to alleviate the 
sufl'crings of destitute poor womon and children through 
the army's entire line of march. He would frequently, 
after the regiment would encamp in the evening, mount a 
horse and search out the poor of the vicinity, and do some- 
thing for them. He was always active and busy at some- 
thing, especially in getting possession of fine horses. He 
was quite successful in maintaining that there was no horse 
in the army like his, l)ut prirdtthj thinking every other horse 
better than his. In the absence of the Chaplain he would 
assume part of his duties, and suppl}' the regiment Avith all 
the reading matter and stationery the Christian Commission 
could furnish him. In this way he was an ardent friend 
and supporter of the Christian Commission, and the repre- 
sentatives of the Commission believe him to be more than an 
(jrdinarv working: Christian. He seldom l)ecome angrv, but 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 85 

wlion lie did liis Christian temper would become somewhat 
ruffled. 

Lieutenant S. A, DeWolf was above middle age, and a 
resident of Gambler, Licking County, and a man noted for 
piety, and Christian integrity. His health gave way soon 
after entering the service, and after every eftbrt on his part 
to arrest disease, he was compelled to resign his commission 
and leave the service, which took place at Bolivar, Tenn. 

Sergeant Humphrey A. McDonald, of " F " company, 
was promoted to Second Lieutenant and assigned to Com- 
pany "I." He was a young man of liberal attainments, 
and very good education, and consistent upright character. 
He was afterwards promoted to First Lieutenant and de- 
tailed as A. A. A. General of the Second Brigade, Third 
Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, but through ill health 
was compelled to muster out at Goldsboro, N". C, and leave 
the service. When he was first promoted to Second Lieu- 
tenant he was detailed by General John A. Logan, as A. A. 
Q. M. of the Pioneer Corps, Third Division, and subse- 
quently assisted Lieutenant J. T. Story in the command of 
Company " C." At Vicksburg, in December, 1863, he was 
appointed Regimental Recruiting Ofiicer, to superintend the 
enlistment of veterans, which position he filled with honor 
to himself and credit to the regiment. Lieutenant William 
H. Hessin was promoted to Captain, Sergeant David M. 
Watson to First Lieutenant, and Sergeant Simon P. Joy, of 
"D" company to Second Lieutenant, and assigned to Com- 
pany " I." All noble young men, good and efficient officers 
and exemplary in conduct; and returned to their friends 
^dth characters better framed and steeled against temptation. 

The following list comprises the non-commissioned officer* 
and enlisted men of the original organization : 

SERGEANTS. 

1. David M. Watson, 3. Daniel Watt, 

2. Angus Falconer, 4. Geo. W. Chandler, 

5. Robert Scott. 



86 



HISTORY OF THE 



1. Harmon W. Browai, 

2. Daniel S. :N'oble, 

3. Thos. McKenzie, 

4. John Hall, 



CORPORALS. 

5. John Baker, 

6. Daniel Mcintosh, 

7. Andrew McPlierson, 

8. Albert Glenn, 



Jacob H. Arter, 1st Mnsician,Davi(l McLain, 2d Musician. 
Joseph "Wilson, Wagoner. 



PRIVATES. 



Adams, William J. 
Axe, Lorenzo 
Adams, Matthew W. 
Abbot, Robert 
Brown, Amos 
Baker, Thomas 
Butler, Eli 
Baker, Gideon IL 
Cole, Oscar 
Cole, Thomas 
Charters, William 
Cams, George W. 
Cameron, William T. 
Dorwart, Henry 
Dobson, Henry 
Drennan, Ezckiel G. 
Daws, Plimpton 
Darison, John 
Ehrhart, Reuben 
Freed, Milton 
Gamble, Thomas 
Gamble, George 
Gamble, Alfred 
Giles, Henry 
H arkins, Thomas G. 
Hilman, David H. 
Hampshire, Henry 
HoUinger, Jacob 



Hanna, George 
Hessin, William H. 
Jackson, Thomas C. 
Ivelley, David 
Kerns, Richard 
Lounsbury, Franklin A. 
McBane, William 
Mcintosh, Evan 
Mcintosh, Andrew 
Mcintosh, John 
Morrison, John II. 
jSIarlnec, Andrew 
McKenzie, John P. 
Mcintosh, Laughlin 
McLain, Daniel 
McLitosh, John F. 
Mendel], William 
McMullin, Archibald 
McCord, George 
Poorman, John F. 
Powers, Morrison 
Roach, Abner M, 
Redick, Cummins C. 
Spellman, Charles 
Steel, George W„ 
Sprinkle, David W. 
Starr, Thomas C. 
Smith, William M. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 



87 



Vanfossan, William V. A\'"itlicr9, George 

Weston, John A. Willis, James B. 

AVilson, John W. Wright, Daniel 

AVilson, Ilirani Wagoner, Joseph 

The following* named men re-enlisted as veteran volun- 
teers at Vicksburg, Miss., January 5th, 1864: 



jMathew W. Adams, 
Isaac Burback, 
John Baker, 
John Clunk, 
Plimpton Daws, 
Henry B. Dolson, 
Anguish Falconer, 
Thomas Gamble, 
Henry Giles, 
fjreorge Hanna, 
John H. Morrison, 



Andrew McPherson, 
John Mcintosh, 
Yv^illiam S. Mendell, 
John P. ]McKenzie, 
Daniel ?JcLain, 
Andrew Mcintosh, 
Thomas Clinton ^Starr, 
Philip Smith, 
David W. Sprinkle, 
George W. Steel, 
William C. Tenley, 
John A. Weston. 

The following named enlisted men, sulistitutes and drafted 
men 'have been added to the company since its original 
organization: 



George Andrews, 
John Cable, 
C^aleb Caldwell, 
John Derr, 
jSTathaniel Darst, 
John DensiJ, 
John Dane, 
William F. Echerd, 
Billingsy Teaser, 
William Francis, 
Joseph Gardner, 
]!!^ehemiah Groves, 
Bowen Gilkey, 
Hiram Hall, 
3^]thel Henry, 
Michael Iletsel, 



^Michael J. Hawk, 
]^fichael W. Hawk, 
Theodore Jackson, 
Peter Jones, 
Cassius M. Jeffres, 
Joseph Johnson, 
Ezekial Johnson, 
Squire Johnson, 
John II. Kaufman, 
John C Keaney, 
Joesph Ivrank, 
^lassenberg Lynch, 
William Lister, 
Joseph Lancaster, 
Henry Luyster, 
Jacob Lamb, 



88 



niSTOEY OF THE 



Edward Miller, 
Philip Mary, 
John Moser, 
Thomas B. McCarty, 
Emmil IMarx, 
John Mclntire, 
Ivichard Mcl'cek, 
('hristopher Mosier, 
Henry Mance, 
William McBane, 
Al)el IS. Xewton, 
James M. ^N'ewland, 
John j\[. Patterson, 
Edward Rose, 
liobert Poland, 
(George H. Iia])es, 
(leorgo 0. Peeder, 
Samuel JSmith, 
Timothy Sheppard, 



Henry Smith, 
Moses Shoemaker, 
John Smith, 
Philip Thomas, 
James Thaxton, 
Isaac Taylor, 
Simon A^ickers, 
AVilliam II. "Williamson, 
Harmon W. Brown, voh 
Evan Mcintosh, 
John W. Davidson, 
Morrison I'owers, 
Zachariah Bncklew, 
William McBain, 
John Davidson, 
Daniel iN^oble, 
George Snift, 
Albert Glenn, 
George Hall, 



nt'r 



The following have been discharged for disability : 



L. C. Axe, 
(jrideon H. Baker, 
Amos Brown, 
Thomas Baker, 
Zachariah Buckler, 
Thomas Coie, 
William T. Cameron, 
Oscar Cole, 
(Tcorge W. Carnes, 
John Davidson, 
Henry Dorwart, 
John Davidson, 
Henry Downard, 
Peuben Ehrhart, 



David Kelley, 
Archibald McMullen, 
D. B. McLaiu, 
D. T. Mcintosh, 
T. P. McKenzie, 
Daniel 8. I^oble, 
John F. Poorman, 
George Swift, 
Charles S})ellman, 
Josepli Wagner, 
John W. Wilson, 
Joseph Wilson, 
Samuel W. Wright, 
Georofe Withers. 



The following have died of disease: 
Eli Butler, Crump's Landing, Tenn., March 25th, 1862. 
Jacob IloUinger, St. Louis, Mo., April 12th, 1862. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTn REGIMENT 0. V. T. I. 89 

Benjamin Butler, camp Shiloh, Tenn., April 30th, 18G2. 
William Charters, camp Shiloh, Tenn., May 9th, 1862. 
llol)ert Scott, Cincinnati, 0., May 31st, 1862. 
John II. Davidson, Paducah, Ky., April 18th, 1863. 
Goorge Gamble, Jackson, Tenn., June 28th, 1862. 
Laughlin Mcintosh, Vicksburg, August 24tli, 1863. 
James D. Willis, Boaufort, S. C, January — , 1865. 
Jlenry IIam[)shire, Hiram Wilson, 

Thomas B. McCarty. 

TRANSFERRED TO INVALID CORPS. 

George W. Chowder, Frank Lonsberry, 

Ezekial S. Drennan, Cummins C. Reddick, 

Albert Glenn, William Smith, 

John Hall. 

KILLED m BATTLE. 

Andrew M. Roach, Champion Hills, May 16th, 1863. 
John Mcintosh, " " " " " 

Thomas C. Starr, Ivenesaw ]\Iountain, June 15th, 1864. 
Daniel 11. Watt, Atkxita, July 22d, 1864. 

Andrew Mcl'herson, promoted to Sergeant-Major. 



AVas raised in Muskingum, ilonroo, Celmont and Xo^iic 
Counties, by John AV. Conn'n, of Zanesville, and organized 
January lltli, 1862. John AV. Cornvn vras appointed Cap- 
tain, John T. Hamilton First Lieutenant, and James Car- 
others Second Lieutenant. The company was made np of 
strong, robust men. This company had more foreigners in. 
it than any other company in the regiment ; owing to the 
fact, perhaps, that the Captain Vv^as a CathoUc, many of his 
persuasion enhsted with him to assist in crushing rebellion, 
and punish treason in the country of their adopted homes. 

The company did good and faithful service, and suffered 
severely duriug the war, taking a part in all the campaigns 
and battles of the regiment. 

The Captain was a hard worker, a man full of energy 
and life, and has had much experience in the management 
of men, especially foreigners, as he was a long time a rail 
road contractor. 

He was a very agreeable, social, pleasant companion, 
somewhat impulsive in character, he was qnick to act, and 
readily discerned the minds of men. 

He served with his company till February, 1863, when he 
was appointed Captain and Commisary of Subsistence, and 
assigned to General Swing's staff. 

Lieutenant John AY. Hamilton, on account of ill health 
resigned his commission, August 20th, 1862. 

He was a quiet unassuming man and against his moral 
character we know nothing. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 91 

Lieutenant James Carothers was taken prisoner a few 
(lays after the battle of Raymond, Missisippi. He and 
Captain Wallar were taken suddenly sick during the pro- 
gress of the Raymond battle. Wallar did not return to the 
regiment until Vicksburg was invested, which was some 
ten daySj and his company having been in three lights during 
that time. Carothers being at a citizen's house, was carried 
otf by the guerrillas and taken to Libby Prison, where 
he remained for about fifteen months. 

Lieutenant Hugh Dunne Avas promoted, to Captain, and 
assigned to Company "K," March 12th, 1864. 

He brought the company home, with the regiment, on 
veteran furlough and after returning to the field it did much 
efficient service in the Atlanta campaign. Captain Dunne 
resigned shortly after the fall of xUlanta, owing to the 
fact that liis time had almost expired, and the press of 
business at home. 

James Brennan of " C " Company, was promoted to Sec- 
ond Lieutenant June 9tli, 1863, and assigned to "K*' Com- 
pany. In April 1864, he was dishonorably mustered out of 
service on account of intemperance. 

Lieutenant George W. Porter was promoted to Captain, 
and assigned to "K" Company, December loth, 1864, but 
being an officer of marked ability, he still remained on Gen- 
eral Leggett's staff as Aid-de-Camp. 

II. AV. McCarty, Sergeant of " E " Company, was promo- 
ted to Second Lieutenant, and assigned to "K" Company. 

John Kennedy, Sergeant- jMaj or of the regiment, was pro- 
moted to Second Lieutenant, and assigned to this eom[iany 
also. No other changes were made in the officers till the 
muster out of the regiment. 

Under these young oflicers the company was orderly and 
efficient in drill. 

II. W. McCarty had been a very efficient Sergeant and 
promised being a good and useful officer. 

The following were the names of the non-commissioned 
officers and enlisted men of the original organization : 



92 



HISTORY OF THE 



SEPwGEANTS. 

1. J. B. Thompson, 3. D. W. McDaiiiel, 

2. E. Delong", 4. IL Ilacket, 

5. Charles BiRmaii. 



1. James Gallagher, 

2. William E. Bostwiek, 

3. Joseph Jeffers, 

4. James ^I. Dillon, 



CORPORALS. 

5. Thomas McCusker, 

6. ratrick Harvey, 

7. William Delong, 

8. William Ponlton. 



Henry C. Koush, 1st. Mnsic'n,John Morrison, 2n(l Music" n, 
John Ilodo^ell, Wagoner. 



PRIVATES. 



Antill, William 
Burkhart, John 
Barnes, WilHam E. 
Brown, Thomas F. 
Brown, Michael 
Bowman, Samuel 
Coon, Peter 
(Uark, Isaac 
Carothers, Thomas 
Belong, Thomas 
Dillen, William 
Billen, Thomas 
Denbow, William 
J)enl)ow, James 
Denbow, John 
Denbow, ISIartin 
Denbow, Bazzel 
English, Edward 
Eracker, Frank 
Fordyce, Samuel 
Floyd, Aaron 
(jrallagher, Edmund 
Gray, Henry 
Gray, Enoch 



Gray, George 
Giesey, Samuel 
Greenbank, John 
Godfrey, Francis 
Iliginbotom, Ezra 
Horn, Adam 
Hacket, William 
Hays, Robert 
Hays, Henry 
Hunt, Burr 
Hofl"inan, Conrid 
Henthorn, Ellis 
Jett'ers, Joseph 
Jeft'ers, John 
Jeffers, Bias 
Jeffers, Joseph, jr. 
Jackson, Foster 
Jordin, William 
Jordin, Thomas 
Kadatz, Ludwig 
Keiger, Jacob 
Lumbattus, George 
McConaughy, Daniel 
McCouaughy, Hugh 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. ?3 

McConangliy, Jesse Kced, Ilinun 

Meiiitel, Leo liobbius, iSwuzy 

Mott, Menaiider Slack, James 

]Srorn.s, John Slack, Elislia 

Myrick, Alyriek Snyder, UyLston 

McCanniion, Frederick Scott, Jolm W. 

iS'ewhart, Frederick Sotton, James 

Xorris, John Tidd, William 

Xorville, PatoTi Tompkins, Jame;. 

Poulston, Levi Wagoner, Isaac 

Faith, David Winland, Charles 

I'otts, James II. Waters, lioderick 

Ivapp, John Yockej'. Henry 

DRAFTED AND SUBSTITUTES. 

Armstrong, Samuel, drafted. 

Adams, Charles, " 

Amnos, Charter li., " 

Aler, James, " 

Fruce, Washington, " 

C arter. Willi an i , " 

(V)on, Eli, " 

Clantz, Jacob IF, " 

Clarkson, Samuel, " 

Cade, Thomas J., drafted — discharged for disaljility. 

Canny, Elmer IF, " 

Calhonn, Ileiiry X., " 

Fenbow, Levi, "■ 

Daugherty, Thomas, " 

Fycr, Joshua, substitute. 

Deckard, Enoch II., drafted. 

Fitzler, Daniel E., drafted — died of disease in hosjiital. 

Davis, Pleasant AV., drafted. 

Faulkner, Paul, drafted — died of disease in hospital. 

(jleason, Joseph, drafted — died of disease in camp. 

Goff, Solomon, drafte(F 

(lill, Daniel, " 

Jloo[»er, John If., " 



94 HISTORY OF THE 

Ilolle}', James L., drafted. 

Ilamley, Levi, drafted — drowned in Tar river, Nortli Caro- 
lina,' May 1st, 1865. 

Jay, Harrison "W., drafted — died of disease in liospital. 

Jones, Leander M., " 

Linard, John, " 

Jjindon, William, " 

Isleek, David, substitnte, 

INlcCue, James, drafted. 

Massie, Eobcrt, " 

McWhorter, "William, drafted. 

Mosier, Joseph, snhstitnte. 

ISTewman, Samuel, drafted. 

I'endel], David, 

Peart, John, " 

Powell, William II., " 

Phillips, Solomon, " 

J 'urdy, Lemuel, sul)stitnte. 

Swaim, Xathan S., drafted. 

Smith, Anthony, "• 

Spanglcr, John, " 

Thompson, Thomas, drafted — killed by lightning, Mareli 
15th, 1865. 

Welftey, George F., drafted — discharged for disabilit}-. 

Ward, Joel, drafted — died of disease. 

Weir, George, drafted. 

Wilson, James, " 

"Yats, Jacob, " 

Young, McKensie, " 

Those after whom no remarks arc placed, were mustered 

out of service June 30th, 1865, in accordance with instruc- 
tions from War Department. 



THE DISPOSITIOX AXD CIIAiq"GES IX THE FIELD. 

COMMISSIONED AND NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF. 

Colonel M, D. Log'gctt remained but a few months witli 
the regiment. It was soon ascertained hy superior com- 
manders that he was a man of more than ordinary aljility 
and energy; an untiring and indefatigable worker, and 
completely successful in everything he undertook. Ariien 
any difficult work was to be performed — some rebel en- 
campment to be broken up, and reconnoisance to be made — 
Colonel Leggett Avith his regiment was usually called upon 
to execute it ; and we do not recollect of a single instance 
wherein he failed to accomplish the work or duty assigned 
liim. Entire satisfaction was always given, and cono-ratu- 
latory orders issued by superior commanding officers. I 
])resume no officer in the army has received more compli- 
mentary notices for efficient service. 

The regiment at times, when tired and worn down under 
the constant strain of active duty, complained, and would 
have preferred a commander of less energy and reputation, 
under whom they supposed less duty would be required of 
them. 

Colonel Leggett understood the nature of the Southern 
l)eople, and from the commencement of the war, he had a 
]iroper conception of its magnitude and character ; not be- 
lieving his views at the time, we were always afterwards 
convinced of their correctness, when applied to tlie test of 
experience. He knew that to crush the rebellion would re- 
([uire every resource of military energy and ability, to sue- 



9G HISTORY OF THE 

cessfnllj meet its desperation and violciiee. Its suppression 
would only be, — as we have fully ascertained by lour 
years' fighting — by hard work, heavy fighting and sacri- 
fice of life. Therefore lie did not bring a lull regiment of 
strong, robust men into the field, to lie about idle in camps, 
doing police and provost duty. IIis place was the front, as 
far to the front, and as near the enemy as possible; this has 
always l)een the position of tlie Seventy-Eighth Kegiment. 
In the summer of 1863, Colonel Leggett Avas in command of 
the Second Brigade, Goneral l\oss' Division, and the winter 
following was made a Brigadier-General of United States 
Volunteers. lie remained in command of the Ohio Brig- 
ade till during the seige of Vicksburg, when he was assigned 
to the command of the First Brigade. 

In the autumn of 1863, General John A. Logan was 
assigned to the command of the Fifteenth Army Corps, and 
was succeeded by General Leggett, in the Third Division, 
iSeventeeuth Army Corps, in which command he remained 
till the close of the war, and frequently during the last year, 
commanded both the Corps and Division. He felt too proud 
of the record of the Third Division, to even take a higher 
permanent conmiission. Early in 1865, he was brevetted a 
jNlajor-General in honor for distinguished services. AVhcn 
the "Army of the Tennessee" was mustered out of the 
service, no one retired to civi life, with a brighter record, 
and a name more fondly cherished and honored. 

BEllRY F. HAWKS 

AV'as a citizen of ISTorwalk, Ohio, and through some influ- 
ence brought to bear on the Governor, was appointed 
Lioutenant-C\")lonel and assigned to tlic Seventy-Eighth 
Jiegiment. Being a stranger to it, caused some little op}»o- 
sition to his appointment, but upon acquaintance all feeling 
upon the subject subsided : he met with ap[)roval and favor. 
His connection with the regiment was of short duration. 
At Fort Donelson lie had a severe attack of the fever, and 
was sent to the hospital at Cincinnati, Ohio, and in a feu- 
weeks Avas permitted to go to his home, l)ut never suiilc- 



SEVEXTY-EianTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 97 

ieiitly recovered liis health to warrant his return to tlie 
activ.e duties of tlic field. He consequently resigned his 
commission some months afterwards. 

MAJOR D. F. CARXAIIAN 

Was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Zanesville, Ohio, 
He gave up his high position, and was relieved from |his 
congregation. He aided materially in raising the regiment, 
by visiting different parts of the counties where recruiters 
were at work, raising companies for the regiment. By the 
influence of his somewhat eloquent speeches many were 
induced to enlist in the service of their covmtry, and join 
the Seventy-Eighth Kegiment. 

The Major entered upon the work with groat energy, and 
was well respected by all in the command. In the summer 
of 1802 a difficulty arose between the Major and other field 
ofiicers, the history of which would take pages to relate, 
and not be satisfactory^ to the reader. Between Chaplain 
Todd and the Major unhappy difi^erences arose ; no oil of 
conciliation could allay or arrest the agitation. Who was 
in the wrong we do not attempt to decide; we were only 
indifferent spectators to the controversy, but by an over- 
whelming force Chaplain Todd gained tlie victory, having 
the most and lieaviest guns on his parapet. 

The Major wisely came to the conclusion, after some 
month's deliberation, that he could serve his country bettei", 
and do more good l>y retiring from the service, which he 
did at Bolivar, Tennessee, and returned to Dayton, Ohi«, 
and resumed his former avocation. The ^Major's politics 
M-ere not rcgai'ded sound, being hostile to the administra- 
tion and a warm admirer of Vallandiglmm. Tliis gavc^ 
rise to many of the troubles and opposition to him on the 
part of som.e of the field officers. 

SURGEOX JAMES S. REKVI^ 

Was a resident physician of ext-ensive practice, of A[cCou- 
iielsville, and served faithfully to the end of the war. As a 
7 



98 HISTORY OF THE 

Surgeon, his reputation stands among the highest. He 
etands as high as any we have known in the army. His 
long practice and close attention to business made him a 
veteran in the management of diseases common to the 
army. His extensive practice in surgery made him a very 
skillful, scientific and successful operator, so that he was 
sought for in difficult operations. He successfuly per- 
formed some of the most difficult in the army, and known 
in the art of surgery. Being a man of close attention to 
business, and having a good business tact, a man of prompt- 
ness, energy, and correctness in everything he did, who 
did all in perfect harmony with "red tape," made him 
very popular with high oflBcers. His reputation, therefore, 
called him away from the regiment to hospitals, and other 
places requiring ability and skill. During the last year of 
his service, he was Surgeon-in-Chief of the Third Division, 
Seventeenth Army Corps, which position he filled with 
eTitir3 satisfaction to General Leggett, and the officers of 
the Division. 

When he entered upon his duties as Surgeon of the 
regiment he encountered much opposition. Unhappy 
feelings and difficulties arose between him and the Assip- 
tant-Surgeon, S. C. Mendenhall. The regiment took issue 
in favor of the Assistant-Surgeon. This arose in part from 
mistakes in the natural disposition of the men, and a non- 
a.equaintancc with the skill and attainments of both. 
But when both had been applied to the test of experience 
opposition to Major Reeves, to a great extent subsided, 
and many of his most bitter enemies became his most 
ardent friends. 

In the beginning of the war the medical department 
was very imperfectly managed, and men everywhere des- 
titute of experience, and the whole army not inured to 
the service, the climate and exposures of field and camp 
life, necessarily caused more sickness, and a greater amount 
of mortality than in the latter part of the war. This 
excited some ill-feelings towards surgeons, because ther 



SEVENTY-ETGnm KEGniENT 0. V. V. I. J)1» 

were not successful in curing disease, and preventing death. 
Major Reeves had much opposition to contend with, 
arising frt)ni these circnnistances, which were hevond tlte 
control of any surgeon or army commandents. Men 
would frequently be sent to hospitals, or convalescent 
camps; when once there, they pass from the hands of 
the regimental surgeons, into the hands of those detailed 
to take charge of such hospitals and convalescent camps. 
If a man died at one of the places away from his regiment, 
the Surgeon of the regiment was frequently charged with 
neglect, and held by friends as partially accountable for hli 
death ; all arising from mistaken notions of army divisions, 
and details in its system of management. When theee 
things become better unde.istood by the people, opposition 
and bad feeling toAvards surgeons ceased in a measure ; and 
surgeons as well as the people became better acquainted witli 
with their duties; and understood the treatment of disease 
in the army much better, and become therefore much mere 
successful. All these elements of opposition were brought 
to bear against Surgeon Reeves. But he out-Uved them 
all, and vindicated himself l)y skillful practice, from all 
censure, and false accusation. Although his disposition 
is an unhappy one, and of many peculiarities, yet he made 
a bright record in the army, and leaves it with a high 
reputation as a skillful physician and surgeon. 

CJIArLAIN 0. M. TODD 

AVas a resident of 'Ne^v Lisbon, Ohio, and pastor of th(» 
Presbyterian Church of that place. lie took a very active 
interest in raising the Seventy-Eighth Regiment, making 
recruiting speeches throughout his county, soliciting volun- 
teers, and with much success.* 

lie entered u])on Jiis duties as chaplain, when the regi- 
ment was stationed at Camp Gilbert, ZanesvilK', Ohio, 
lie was a man of rather more than ordinary ability; good, 
close, practical preacher. After the regiment left tl>e 
State there was little opportunity for divine service • of 

« See Company " I. " 



100 HISTORY OF THE 

auy kind, the regiment being almost constantly on the 
move. The Chaplain was charged with neglecting tlie 
nick, but this amounts to but little; every person waa 
blamed merely because circumstances existed beyond the 
control of any one. Men could not work miracles and 
save people from disease and the grave, in this age of the 
world; and that too when a war that excited the eivihzed 
world was raging all over our territory. 

The Chaplain and Surgeon were frequently in conflict, 
and bitter feeling-s existed. It is a rare thing for surgeons 
and chaplains to agree; the surgeon being very sensitive 
in reference to any su})posed interference witli the duties 
of the medical department, which sometimes takes in a 
very wide range, and again becomes quite limited, just 
in proportion as responsibilities are involved. 

The chaplain on the other hand is an independent 
character, who considers it his business to be somewhat 
meddlesome, inasnmch as his position is one that has to do 
with all duties rather than with any particuhir one ; there- 
fore what he regards his duty frequently is regarded an 
impertinence and interference, on the part of othen^. 
CHiaplain Todd, suffered much from ill-health, and n^-^t 
willins: lono'er to subicct himself to the hardships of the 
service, ami enter upon tlie campaigns just opening l)efore 
the regiment, he resigned the chaplaincy December, 18(52. 

ADJUTANT JOIIX E. JEV.'ETT 

Is a son of IL J. Jewett, of Zanesville, a man of consider- 
able wealth and iuiiuence. The Adjutant liad been in 
the "Three Month's Service," which gave him an experi- 
ence that made him useful in the regiment. He was quite 
a fast young man, a good type of Young America; social, 
pleasant and popular with all; liberal and generous to a 
fault. He was completely master of his business, and man- 
a^ed that part of the regiment with considerable abilitv. 
lie served with the regiment less than a year, when he 
wa.s promoted to a Ca[)tain of A'oluntcers, assigned to the 



SEVENTY-EIGnXII REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 101 

C^orps of Auls-dc-Camp, and ordered to report to Major- 
General McDowell, then in Virg-inia. 

QUARTERMASTER. 

Lieutenant John C. Donglan, of Cambridge, Guernsey 
('ounty, Oliio, was appointed to this position, and managed 
it with much al)jlity and acceptance. He had long been 
supcriutcndent of the public schools of Cambridge, and 
editor and proprietor of the principal publication of that 
town and county. lie finally succeeded in making tlie 
-'Oiierjiscy Times'' one of the most successful and patriotic 
organs extant in the interests of the Government. 

AVhen Leggett received the aj^pointment of Bi'igadier- 
<Teneral, Lieutenant Douglas was [)romoted to Captain of 
United States Volunteers, and Assistant Adjutant-General 
to General Leggett. Upon General Leggett's ap)pointment 
to Brevet ]\Iajor-General, Captain Douglas was promoted 
to the full ranic of Major, and breveted Lieutenant-Colonel. 
He served with (general Leggett to the close of the war 
and the muster out of the Seventeenth Army Corps. He 
was regarded one of the most prompt, correct and eflicient 
Adjut;uit < icnerals in the Corps. The business of Ids 
'lc[)artmont of the Division was not permitted to lie and 
iuould in the pigeon holes of his deek, as is too often the 
*'ase, l>ut was always attended to promjitly, and satisfacto- 
rily. He is a man of cahn, sober, solid thought; stern, 
prompt execution, Cjuick apprehension, and a mind that 
^i^rasped consequences with readiness. Satisfactory and 
t'lear in explanation, but not the most patiesit and for- 
bearing with those of duller a})prehension, and who 
could not see all things as he did. 

ASSISTANT SURGEON. 

S. C. Mendenliall, was a citizen of Frazeysburg, Mus- 
kingum County, Ohio, of whom mention has been made 
iu couuection with the Surgeon of the regiment. He 
served with the regiment but a few months, having fallen 
a victim to the malaria of the South, which proved so 



102 UISTORY OF THE 

disastrous to our army the first year of the war, he resigned. 
After remaining at liomc a few months and regaining his 
liealth, he was appointed Surgeon of the Seventy-Sixth 
Oliio Eegiment, where, we learn he did efficient service, and 
I'ontinued with his regi'nent till tlie close of the war. 
With Surgeon Mendenhall we have no acquaintance, ex- 
cept the few montlis he served with the Seventy-Eighth 
Tlcgiment, but know that lie is regarded as a Surgeon of 
very good attainments and fair average skill, by his regi- 
ment. The regiment gave liim a wide field of pi'actice, 
being in all the battles and campaigns of General Sherman, 
The following named enlisted men were appointed on 
tlic non-commissioned staft" of the regiment: 

HOWARD S. ABBOTT, SERGEANT-MAJOR, 

Who Avas somewhat austere in his demeanor, but a good, 
faithful and efficient officer. lie was promoted to Adjutant, 
wliich position he filled till the battle of Champion Hill's, 
when at the head of his regiment he fell, a rebel ball 
having entered his left ear, and came out on the back part 
of his neck. He was supposed to be dead and remained 
sometime in an insensible condition on the field. Tlioso 
carrying oft' the wounded were about to pass him by 
making the remark, "poor Adjutant Abbott, there he 
lies, killed," to whicli the Adjutant feebly responded, 

liaving heard their voices, "not by a d d sight."' lie 

was then carried to the ljos})ital, where for many days his 
life was despaired of. The Surgeon l)y the most careful 
and skillful treatment suceeeded in saving his life. He so 
far recovered as to l)e al)le to go to his home, but did iwt 
recover sufficiently to retm-n to his regiment for three or 
four months, and even then he suft'ered much from the 
cft'ects of the wound. J^y reason of so long an absence 
from the regiment, lie was lionorably mustered out by 
the War Department, but was afterwards appointed a 
Captain, which he promptly declined, for the reason that 
he was not first "reinstated."' His absence was no fault 
of his. His coolness, courage and bravery upon tho 



BEVENTY-EIGHTn REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 108 

field merited a promotion from the War Department, 
leather than a muster out of service, but such is life and 
the ways of the world. The most deserving and merito- 
rious frequently pass unnoticed, while the unworthy reap 
honors, though stolen. 

HENRY E. BIGELOW 

Was appointed Quartermaster-Sergeant. A young man 
of fine business attainments, as he afterwards proved by 
being promoted to First Lieutenant and Quartermaster, 
vice Douglas promoted. There were few Regimental 
Quartermasters in the corps that did business with more 
|)romptness, and kept the accounts and papers of their 
department more correctly. Though quite a youth in 
years, he was old in judgment and executive ability; of 
generous, pleasant and social qualities, but very indepen- 
dent and decided in his manners, and gentlemanly in his 
general demeanor. He was detailed by General R. K. 
Hcott, as Acting Assistant Quartermaster, Second Brigade, 
Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, which position 
he filled until the close of the war and the muster out of 
the regiment. In February, 1865, he was promoted to 
Cai)tain, but declined to be mustered. 

WILLIAM M. SLEETH 

Was appointed Commissary Sergeant, of whom honorable 
mention has been made in connection with Company A ; 
sn which company he was promoted to Second Lieutenant 
and afterwards First, and Adjutant of the Regiment. He 
was one of the most faithful and conscientious of men; 
«tiri.ctly honest and upright in ever}' thing he did. After 
nearly four years service, he is free from the least blot 
upon his character; and never a fault or complaint wa< 
made, or heard in the discharge of his duty. 

CHARLES RAPER 

Of Putnam, Ohio, was appointed Bugler and chief musi- 
cian. Under him the regiment had a band not sur- 
passed by any regiment in the service. His health havino; 



104 HISTORY OF THE 

failed him and his position as " Chief Musician " hannp; 
1>ecn declared by the War Department to exist no longer 
thronghont the entire army, he was therefore honorably 
mustered out at Lake Providence, Lousiana, not for- 
getting however, after the steamer on which he took pas- 
sage started up the river, to deliver a farewell address to 
the Brigade by blowing on the bugle the "Jack-Ass-call ;"" 
a favorite piece of original music by liim. 
James Ballinger was appointed Fife-]Slajor- 

Albert J. Farnum, Drum-Major. 

Eli J. Coulson, Hospital Steward. 

He was a physician of Pennsville, Morgan County, and 
a man of successful and extensive practice. Believing it 
his duty to give his ser\dce to his country, and that this 
could best be done by taking the field, he therefore enlisted 
as a private in Company "E." His health yielded to the 
hardships incident to army life, and the debilitating influ- 
ence of a malarious climate, which caused him to be 
mustered out of the service in a few months after tho 
regiment left the State, He afterwards regained his health, 
and raised accompany for the "hundred days service," and 
went out as its Captain. 

SECTION SECOis^D. 

A considerable change now takes place in th© Field and 
Staff. Captain Z. M. Chandler was promoted to ]\Iajor at 
Bolivar, Tennessee, and afterwards to Lieutenant-Colonel. 
Mention has been made of him in connection with Company 
B. He resigned his commission near Port Gibson, Mis- 
Bissippi. 

CaPTAIN J, T. RAINET 

"Was promoted to Major, and assumed command of the 
regiment, when Z. M. Chandler resigned. He commanded 
the regiment through two battles within three days ; that 
of Raymond and Jackson, Misssissippi, the former being 
one of its hardest fought and most unexpected battles. 



SEVEXTY-EIGHTII EEGIMEXT 0. V. Y. I, 105 

Justice licre demands tliat we should state tliat iii con- 
sequence of General Leggett's absence, Brigadier-General 
Dennis, formerly Colonel of the Thirtieth Illinois Infantry, 
commanded the brigade from Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, 
until after the battle of Jackson, ]\Iississippi.. During this 
time the brigade took an important part in three battles ; 
Port Gibson, Raymond, and Jackson, Mississippi. 

The battle of Kaymond, Miss., was almost exclusively 
fought by the Second Brigade, composed at that time 
of the Twentieth, Sixty-Eighth, and Seventy-Eighth Ohio, 
and Thirtieth Illinois regiments, commanded by General 
Dennis, and whipped all of General Claiborne's (rebel) 
division. At this time General Leggett returned, and 
resumed command of the Second Bi-igade, and General 
Dennis was ordered by General JMcI'herson to take com- 
mand of the Sixth Division, Seventeenth Army Corps. 

J. D. "WORKMAN 

Vias appointed Assistant Surgeon, but remained only a few 
weeks with the regiment, on account of sickness, and did 
not regain his health sufficiently to resume bis duties. In 
.June, 1862, prior to this, W. Marrow Beacli, of London, 
Madison County, Ohio, was appointed Assistant Surgeon, 
and remained with the regiment until June, 1864, when he 
was promoted to full Surgeon and assigned to the One 
Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio. Surgeon Beech was much 
respected by the Seventy-Eighth Ohio. His manner wa^*^ 
pleasant and friendly — very kind and accommodating to 
the men, which prejudiced the regiment very much in liis 
favor — always cheerful and kind, the men felt at ease and 
at home in his company. 

E. D. FORREST 

"Was appointed Assistant Surgeon, vice Workman resigned. 
lie was detailed on hospital duty, and was soon detached 
from the regiment and assigned elsewhere. 

GABRIEL n. IIOLLAXD 

Was appointed Hospital Steward, vice Coulson mustered 



10<> HISTORY OF THE 

out. lie ',vas n young man of good attainments, ahva\'3 
cheerful and mirthful. Jle dischai'ged his duties with great 
acceptabihty to all. On the 22d of July near Atlanta he 
was captured, and held a prisoner for several months. At 
tlie expiration of his term of service he was exchanged, 
and shortly afterwards mustered out. Joseph L. Geyer was 
then appointed Hospital steward, liaving been for nearly a 
year Dispenser in the regiment. He was a true, faithful, 
and conscientiously upright man in all the duties of his 
])oaition. He was as true to the interests of the Govern- 
ment in the economical use and issue of medicines as a 
proprietor of his own drug store. 

AVILLIAM J. m'aLLISTEH 

Was appointed Quartermaster-Sergeant, and William 
llelicr, Commissary-Sergeant, both distinguished for good 
and accurate business talent. The former was discharged 
at Yicksburg, for disability, and the latter afterwards 
detailed as Clerk in the Third Division Commissary ; his 
term of three years having expired, he was mustered out, 
and in the spring of 18G5 was appointed sutler of the 
I'cgimcnt. 

This brings us to the Field and Staff of the present 
organization, and continues without much change until the 
muster out of the regiment. 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILES 

(See Companies B and C for more specific account,) was 
])romoted from Captain, and took command of the regiment 
on the morning of the battle of Champion Hills. Under 
him it became the best drilled and most orderly regiment of 
the corps, and, without doubt, the best in the Western 
ai'my. Its superior discipline and high moral character was 
observed by all, so that it became known as the "Model 
liegiment." The Colonel, well knowing that morality was 
one of the chief qualities held in request for a good, orderly 
regiment, neglected no means for this attainment. He 
thei-efore gave every encouragement to the Chaplain, and 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 107 

attendance on tlic part of the men to divine Borvico? on 
the Sabbath. He always attended liimsclf, and usually led 
the singing. His example in this respect had a decided 
influence, so that the regiment generally attended preaching 
on tlie Sabbath, while some other Ch^iplains complained 
bitterly that their regiments neglected this duty ; so that 
many had to abandon all eftbrts to get congregations. AVc 
•eldom ever preached to a small congregation, and when 
others preached for us, they were surprised at the large 
congregations that turned out, when compared with other 
regiments. 

Tlie Colonel seldom ever was compelled to inflict punish- 
ment, but when necessary, it was severe; he was rigid in 
discipline, yet kind in reformatory. ]Men most generally 
went from under punishment convinced that it was right. 
and seldom gave manifestations of malignant feelings |jiu 
consequence. AV'ehave seldom seen them going av/ay with 
feelings of revenge. "WHien going from under arrest a few 
kind words from the Colonel would satisfy them that it was 
for their good, and the best interest cf the regiment. 

The Colonel was always uniform in his demeanor, and 
]>olite in his manner of dealing with men and measures ; 
never excited ; no storm or adverse winds agitated the 
aurface of his life. 

At the battle of the 22d of July, in front of Atlanta, he 
eommanded the brigade with great ability ; his coolness, 
courage and freeness from excitement, inspired the men 
with a courage and bravery the most remarkable and 
I»raiseworthy in the history of the war. He was afterwards 
promoted to Colonel; the regiment having received a 
wuflicient number of substitutes and drafted men to till it 
up to, or about the minimum. 

On the campaign from Savannah, Georgia, to Goldsboro, 
Xorth Carolina, he commanded the Second Brigade 
through all the terrible hardships, and almost insurmounta- 
ble difficulties of that campaign. When the regiment 
arrived at Washhigton, D. C, he was promoted to Brevet 



108 msTor.Y of the 

Brigadier-General, and that npon consideration of merit 
alone, which is hy no means what all promotions in the his- 
tory of the war can claim. 

A. W. SEAPvCII 

AVas promoted to Fir^t Lientcnant and Adjntant, vice IT. 
8. ALbott. He was Colonel AViles' right hand l)o\ver, and 
one that never faik'd to win. Possessed ot fine executive 
talent, prompt in execution, rpuck in apprehension, correct 
in decision, condjined with liberal education, and a mild, 
})leasant, social disposition, well fitted him for the position 
in the regiment and brigade. He was A. A. A, General of 
the Brigade wdiile commanded l)y Colonel AVih'S. His 
correct knowledge of all orders and returns necessaiy to l)c 
made on the part of officers to the AVar Department, mndt> 
jiim a \QTj useful officer in the regiment. AVhcn diliietdties 
arose, and oflicers became perplexed in regard to their 
returns, "go to Search " was usually the advice. 

While Adjutant Search vv-as on Colonel Wiles' stair, 
Lieutenant J. T. Story acted Adjutant of the Regiment. 
lie made a very prom})t and efficient Adjutant. He luid 
been for sevez'al months on General Scott's staff, as Brigade 
Inspector and Provost Marshal. As an officer, General 
Scott comphmented him highly for the efficient and satis- 
factory manner in which he adjusted all the business of 
those two important offices. 

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM M. SLEETH 

Was appointed Adjutant, vice Search promoted. He filled 
the position with entire satisfaction to the regiment, until 
it was mustered out of service. 

In May, 1864, G. F. Peckham was a})pointcd Assistant 
Sursreon of the regiment. Sursreon Reeves beiuii- on 
detached duty the greater part of the time, therefore the 
entire responsibility of the medical department of the 
regiment rested on Surgeon Peckham, who discharged his 
duty with entire satisfaction. He is a man of very agree- 
iible manners and address, social and accommodating, 
notJiing fostidious or eccentric about him. 



SEVENTY-EIGIITn REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 109 

RALPH D. WEBB 

Was appointed Second Assistant Surgeon in Mi\r, 1805. 
lie is a very pleasant young man, and liked well by the 
regiment. Xo other changes occurred in the Medical Staff 
until the muster out of the regiment. 

CAPTAIN GILBERT I). MUNSON 

"Was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, in January, ISO'). 
Ho had long been on stalfduty, as Picket Officer. lie is an 
officer of much abihty, good attainments and very pleasing 
address, of good morals, and commendable habits. IK' 
took command of the regiment at Goldsboro, ^N". C, and 
led it through to Alexandna, Va., in a numner that 
ini])ressed the men most favorably. Every one held him in 
the highest estimation. He was quiet but earnest in all he 
did, and did business orderly ajidwith dispatch. 

There was no half manner of discipline ; orders had to 
be obeyed promptly, and without questions. Colonel 
!>.[unson, though young in years, was old in military ex[>e- 
rience. His coolness and bravery upon the field of battle, 
was almost unequaled ; lie detested cowardice, meanness 
and treachery ; gentlemanly in his manner and chaste ia 
his conversation. 

CAPTAIN ISRAEL C. ROBINSON 

Vv'as promoted to Major at Savannah, Georgia, and com- 
manded the regiment from that place to Goldsboro, K. C, 
(see Company D.) The Major is one of those social, merry, 
good natured men, and so musical in everything that n(» 
one could avoid liking him, even if he did not wish to. 
This was the case with the regiment: it was natural to Ix; 
impressed in his favor. On the South Carohna campaign 
lie commanded the regiment with much satisfaction to all. 
He is fond of fast horses, fast people, good vatcr, good 
table, and liked to see and have his regiment look well. 

REV. T. M. STEVENSON 

Was appointed Chaplain in February, 18G3, and 6er\xnl 
with the regiment in nearly all its campaigns. 



110 HISTORY OF THE 

The present non-commissioned staft' are : 
Andrew McPherson, Sergeant-Major. 
Simeon C. Search, Quartermaster-Sergeant. 
William W. Porter, Commissary-Sergeant. 
Joseph L. Geyer, Hospital Steward. 
Jacob Arter, Principal Musician. 



WAR SHADOWS. 



It Will be seen by an examination of the records that 
"nearly one regiment of men have been used up, within a 
period of less than four years, by deaths from disease or 
wounds, killed in battle, discharged for disability, tnissing 
and deserted. 

Although the regiment has suiFercd severely, being in all 
the important Ijattles, skirmishes and campaigns of the 
AVestern army, always in the front, and in the heart of an 
enemy's country, and living both summer and winter 
among the swamps of a miasmatic and unhealthy climate 
yet it has been wonderfully spared and blessed. Pros- 
pering providences have attended the regiment in all its 
marches and l)attlcs. Very often, when in the most dan- 
gerous position, and circumstances of the most liazardouw 
nature, some fortuitous event occurred that saved the regi- 
ment. Often, very often, lias the writer observed tluit a 
few moments earlier or later would have been attended 
with the most disastrous consequences. Wise, prudent and 
skillful commanders have saved many a precious life. Yea, 
at times, saved the entire regiment from being annihilat.ed 
or taken ])risoners. 

The Sanitary condition of the regiment has always be^u 
a special care of its officers. Although it received but little 
benclit fix)m the Sanitary Commission nearly all the period 



112 HLSTORY OF THE ' 

of the war, being too far to the front to be accessible to the 
agencies. It has been a source of regret that the regiment 
could enjoy so little of the kind and generous liberality of 
its many friends who have contributed so largely and 
profusely to all the Relief Associations and Commissions 
for the benefit of the soldiers. 

For more than one-half the past two years, the regiment 
has been allowanced to one-half, and sometimes to one-third 
rations, and many times for days together, none at all ; 
Avhile the Eastern army, and those in our immediate rear, 
wci'e receiving almost suffu-icnt from Christian and Sanitary 
( 'ommissions to supply all deficiencies of the army rations. 
Often have we seen men in the rear of Vicksburg, before 
communications -were opened, and also on the Atlanta 
campaign, offer five dollars for a single "hard-tack," and at 
the same time marching and fighting night and day; at 
other times, after lying in their pits and trenches, as at 
Vicksburg, Kenesaw Alountain, Atlanta, and the siege of 
Havannah, for weeks and months exposed to hot sun and 
the cool dampness of the nights, and constantly nnder the 
iL-nemy's fire, with a very scanty allowance. Such circum- 
sitances must necessarily enlarge the mortality of the 
legiment. The wonder is not, therefore, that so many have 
■fallen, but that any were spared; not that so many of its 
!>rave men lie scattered here and there, in nearly eveiy 
rebellious State, but that so many were permitted, through 
a kind and merciful Pro\idence, to return to their homes 
and their friends. Although we rejoice in a country saved by 
the valor and heroism of her sons, yet there are clouds of 
blackness that gather over ns to dim the brightness of our joy. 
Sad and desolate hearts mourn, bereft of loved ones who lie 
tileeping their long sleep, sanctifying by their aslies the soil 
of traitors. We rejoice that the stars and stiipes, the flag 
of the free, waves over a free ])eople, from the Atlantic to 
the Pacific, and not one slave beneath its folds. But in the 
midst of our rejoicing shadows of departed ones hang over 
us, and linger around, causing the patriot to exclaim : Alas! 



SEVENTY-EIGnin REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 113 

tliat it was puivliuscdso dear. Wo thank God for libcrtv 
and a free land; tliat tlie fetter lias been stricken from the 
liand of the slave ; Ijnt, alas! at such a}irice ! The sacritiee 
of the husband, the father, the l)rother, the son, who sliall 
never return to receive the welcome smile, to liear the 
gladsome voices, to cheer the heart, and the sweet caresses 
of little ones, as they gather around him in the quietude of 
Ills evening hours. These are the clouds of war that hang 
heavy with widows' tears, a mother's grief, a sistei*"s 
regret. 

The Seventy-Eighth Eegiment has lost man}' of its wry 
best and bravest men. ])eatli in every form seems to love 
the beautiful and the good, and selects such as companions, 
in its cold and chilly al)ode. It delights to walk where it 
can cause to flow the most tears, the deepest sorrow, and 
most painful grief; the l)est husband, the best son and 
brother, are death's delights and chosen ones. When in 
battle, and any one fell dead, or mortally wounded, the 
Captain would say, " That is one of my best and most 
reliable men." 

The regiment when it left the State, had a strong 
religious element ; men who were active, living, earnest 
Christians. The gi-eater proportion of these have fallen ; 
men whose loss the regiment deeply felt, and wlio will be 
much missed at home, and by their friends. Truly, tluj 
l)est blood of the land has l)een poured out to make 8acr(Ml 
our country's flag, and baptise anew the principles which it 
represents. 

This fact should lead our national authority to choris^h 
her noble institutions, and to consecrate themselves anew 
to labor for her welfare; and to give to patriotism a signifi- 
cance of meaning that will shame the demagogue, and 
embalm in the heart the nation's honor, by doing justly, 
loving mercy, and keeping judgment. 

Let every true patriot most earnestly cherish the names 
of those who liave laid down tlieir lives upon tlieir coin>- 



114 HISTORY OF THE 

trj's altar, and chcerfally have givoii all that was dear to 
tiiemselvGS and .families a sacritleo for national life and 
lionor — for the peace and safety of liomes, for the 
prosperity of national nnion, liherty and independence. 

Those hrave ones arc gone hcyond the reach of our henefit 
and rcAvard, hut those "who innnediately and directly feel 
the sacriiicc are among us. Let their loss he partially 
made up hy all that is heautiful in human kindness and 
tenderness; hy dryiiig up the widow's tears and the 
orphan's lament : in a benevolence of heart that will Ix-stow 
hljerally of a henelit and reward that will gladden and cheer 
the heart, saddened and depressed hy a loss that can never 
he compensated. Let the lacerated feelings he healed by 
the halm of active, sympathisiug henelicence. Let the 
monuments to be erected in honor of the dead, be the caro 
of the soldier's family, that his orphan children may bo 
moiuiments of true patriotism, Christian greatness and 
iiraisev/ortli v intc2:i'it v. 

Let those last words tliat come in faint accents from the- 
dying husband and father, " Oh ! my Vv-ife, my children ; 
what will ])ecome of them?'' l)e ansv.'cred by every patriotic 
Jieart: " They shall be taken care of." Patriot, 'bend your 
knee and listen to that soldier boy v\'ho had scarcely jtassed 
his sixteenth year, when lying upon his cot, vrhere the 
candle of life was growing dim and fUckering in its socket, 
and thought to be in.sensible to passing events, hcai'd the 
Chaplain's voice and called rloud to liim to come to his cot 
juid pray with him. And wher« the Ch.aplaiu ar(.>se irom Li , 
kur^e, the little hoy exclaimed, "I feel b-ctter now," and 
c miraenced a heautiful and earnest yirayer for his mother and 
little sister — that God would comfort her in the loss other 
dear boy, tliat He vrould care for both her and sister, an<l 
l)ring them both to meet him in heaven. Help, patriot! 
to answer that dear boy's prayer, by caring for that mother 
and that dear little sister, and the hundreds around you in 
similar circumstances. 



SEVENTY-Eiaiim REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 115 

Let the survivors of these four years of bloody conflict 
gather around tlieir fallen comrades, and carve their names, 
if not on marble, on the tablets of their hearts. You rejoice 
that the cause for which you have fought, the cause of our 
country and humanity, has triumphed, and you are liere to 
enjoy the victory. Head often their names, and be carrieil, 
in imagination, over the dark scenes of the rebellion from 
its commencement to its end. Commemorate the deeds and 
virtues of those heroes, who are not permitted, by a myste- 
rious Providence, to enjoy the fruits of their patient 
endurance, their hard struggle and severe conflicts. They 
lie scattered broadcast, along the Mississippi Valley, the 
mountains and plains of Georgia, and by the rivei's and 
swamps of South Carolina; and in the burying groumls of 
tiie hospitals from Atlanta to Cincinnati; and in numberless 
graves in rebel prisons from Alabama to Virginia. They 
will be seen no more on earth. Their homes, sorrov.'- 
strickeu, will be gladdened never more by their return ; 
their heroic death, these remain to their friends, their com- 
rades, and to their country. We Vv'onld like to introduco 
to the reader, a more particular history of these noble 
men, to give some more special account of the remarkable 
and triumphant deaths we have witnessed. Tlie calm- 
ness in whicl) they faced the King of Terrors: their 
unshaken faith in Clirist vrho was true to his promise to 
lead them down through the Valley peacefully, and tri- 
umphantly. Tliey fouiid there was nothing to fear, 
that all was well; all vras bright. 

The many fathers who committed, when dying, their 
vrives and children to Gad's care, and their earnest desire 
that they would all strive to meet them in he;ivcii, but we 
cannot give space to iudividual instances. These would fill 
a large volume tliemselves. We cannot forbear putting one 
on record: a fair specimen of many. The fo ".lowing is a 
brief account of the Christian life and death of one who 
enlisted in tlie regiment: 

Among the many noble young men who have given their 



116 HISTORY OF TEE 

lives for the cause of human indcpciidcnce, vre mn}' class 
.JASPER Stone Laugiilin, who died in the twcnt^^-third year 
of his age at the West End Military Hospital, at Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, May IG, 18G2. 

He was an only son, born in McConnelsville, Ohio, of 
pions parents, where he spent nearly all his life with his 
mother and sisters, his father, who was a Ruling Elder in 
the Prcshyterian C'hurch, having died when Jasper was yet 
a child. 

It may be truly said of him, 

"None knew l)im bnt to love him." 

The great beauty of his short life shone out more bril- 
liantly, when, in the summer of 1858, he stood up for Jesus, 
and united with the Presbyterian Church. Such was his 
Christian deportment that, in 18G1, he was elected and 
ordained a Ruling Elder, in the same church in which his 
lather had lived and died. When at home, his place Avas 
vcrcr vacant in the Sabbath school — the prayer meeting — 
the public gatherings of God's people. 

In the fall of 18G1, under a deep sense of duty to his 
country and his God, after prayerfully considering the whole 
m itter, and obtaining the consent of his widowed mother, 
he volunteered under Captain T. M. Stevenson, Seventy- 
Eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Leg- 
gett. His regiment was at the battle of Fort Bonelson, and 
in the battle of Shiloli during the second day. After having 
passed through that fearful struggle, and enduring many 
hardships, he was found to be failing in health; so much so, 
that Captain Stevenson determined to send him home. 

He carried his religion with him. His Bible and hymn- 
book were his daily companions. Ilis Captain in writing 
about him, since his death, says: " He was beloved by every 
one of hivS regiment. His conduct was so lofty and noble, 
his life so spiritual and heavenly-minded, that the greatest 
despisers of religion were cowed before his very appear- 
ance. He often came to my tent, and we had many talks 
on our experience. Once he said, ' I never before felt the 



gEVENTY-EIGIITU REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 117 

importance of religion as I do here. Cut off from home 
and the pubHc means of grace, I feci the necest?ity of lean- 
ing exclusively on the Savior, and committing myself 
entirely to a kind and good Providence.' " 

When disease was wearing away his life, he was nrged to 
think of home, and the hope was held up before him that 
]ie would soon he conveyed to his mother and sisters, lie 
replied : ' I am going to a far better home than any on 
earth. Tell my mother and sisters that I die happy. I am 
entering the upper kingdom only a few days Ijcfore them. 
Tell them not to mourn for me. I Avould not have them 
do so. They rejoiced when I came into the lower kingdom, 
liow much more should they rejoice to have me enter into 
the upper Sanctuary. Tell them to sing ' joyfully,' when 
they hear of my high promotion from the army, and the high 
service of my country, to the bright, bright climes of bliss !' 

After he was placed on the boat at Pittsburg Landing, 
May 7, he seemed to rally, and expressed himself as being 
quite comfortable. On the evening of tlie 9th, however, he 
felt that he was drawing near his " time to die " — and being 
asked by his attending physician, if he had any message to 
jjcnd to his friends, dictated the following letter : 

"Dear Mother and Sisters: — I am just entering the 
glorious portals of eternity ! Jesus has not yet made his 
iipjpearauce, but I know that he will. Do not regret that 
you permitted me to volunteer. The happiness of the 
present moment makes up for all the suffering I ever 
endured. I soon' expect to see dear father, grand-father, 
and al>ove all — Jesus! One of the greatest objects of my 
gratitude is, that G od has granted me the privilege of send- 
ing you this message from the chambers of glory. I never 
enjoyed myself so much as while in the army. You ought 
to be proud that you have a son to fall in so glorious a 
eause as that of human independence. Tell our church to 
he faithful unto the end, and get the glorious crov/n of life. 
Tell my dear pastor to continue in his faithful labors, for I 
know the blessing of God will follow them. Thank Mr. 



118 HISTORY OF TIIE 

Chambers, the Baptist minister, for the interest he took in 
me at the good old Union Prayer- ^Meetings. 

"Joyfully, joyfully, onward we move' 
will he sung hy me in noisier strains, in a short time, and 

" ' Nearer, my God, to thee, 

Nearer to thee ; 
Even tbongh it be a cross 

That", raiseth me, 
Still all my song shall be. 

Nearer, my God, to tl.ee, 
Nearer to thee' — 'I would be, 

Still nearer to thee.'" 

Still he lived. lie was conveyed to the "West End 'MWi- 
tary Hospital, in Cincinnati, where the providence of liil 
Covenant-keeping God bronght him nnder the kind care 
of relatives and friends. Dr. Dodge, who, with his kind 
family, spent mneh time with him, in a letter, says : 

" He was perfectly rational as long as he had strength to 
articnlate. Realizing fnlly that his work on earth was done, 
he departed with a confident assnrance of meeting* the 
Savior. From the time he left Pittsbnrg Landing, until Ids 
death, he gave to all around him the brightest evidence 
of the power of Christianity, Lawyers, j^hysicians and 
nurses knelt, and wept, like children, around his dying bed. 
The memory of his example and f:\ith in the Savior will 
never be efiaced from the minds of scores of sympathizing 
friends." 

His remains were Ijrought home, and interred by the side 
of his father. 



CASUALTIES OF THE WAR. 



Official estimates at the Y^ar Departn:iciit comp:itc tlie 
number of deaths in the riuou armies since the commence- 
ment of the v.'ar, incUiding- the stai'vin.ii; prisoners at 
325,000. There lias doubtless been fully 200,000 Southern 
soldiers removed by disease and the casualties of battle, so 
that not less than 525,000 lives have been sacrificed in this 
unholy contest, begun and prolonged by the South in 
their vain elfart to bulM up a no'.v re';):il)lic and streno'then 
the slave power. 

Our greatest losses during any one campaign occurred at 
Gettysburg', when 23,2(30 Union soldiers were killed 
%voundcd and taken prisoners. Hooker's campaign of 
18G3 in the AVilderness ranks next to Gettysburg as far as 
regards Union losses, they having amounted to 20,0©0, 
though generally reported at onlj'- 10,000. Burnside lof-t 
12,000 in the battle of Fredericksburg, McClellan 12,426 
at Antietam, Porter 9,000 at Gains' ?»Iills, Koseerans 12,- 
084- at Murfrcesboro, and 2G,854 at Chickamauga, and 
Hherman about 9,000 in two days' l)attle around Atlanta. 

The official reports of General Grant's losses, from the 
time he crossed the Eapidan until receiving the surrender 
of Lee, computes them at 90,000. In the various engage- 
ments fought by General Graiit in the West, he lost 13,- 
574 men at Fittsburg Landing, 9,875 in the severe con- 
tests around A'icksburg, and in tbo attack on Missionary 
Kidge, about 7,000. 



120 HISTORY OF THE 

Tliougli onr losses in many of tlie campaigns have been 
lieavv, tlioy jet fall far below those ineuiTcd in some of 
the European wars. This has been chie, to a considerable 
extent, to the efficiency of the medical de[)artment, and the 
lavish amount of supplies, at least one-third greater than 
those furnished to any European army. A report recently 
]iiade to the Imperial Academy of jNIedicine, by Chenu, 
iMiysician of the French army, estimates the losses of that 
army, in the Crimean war as follows: Killed in the field 
of battle or missing, 10,340, lost in Semilante, 702; died of 
various diseases at Alma, 8,084; died of cold, apoplexy, 
etc., before Sebastopol, 4,342; ched hi the field and general 
hosj.itals, 72,247, total, 05,(314. Thus, of 300,264 men sent 
by France to the Crimea, about one-third found a soldier's 
grave. 

The seige and reduction of Jerusalem resulted, says 
Josephus, in the loss of 1,000,000 lives; 90,000 Persians 
were placed /tors da combat at the battle of Albela, and 
100.000 Carthegenians in the engagement of I'alermo. 
12,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry perished on the fatal 
tield of Issus. Spain lost 2,000,000 lives during the pros- 
ecution of the Arabians, and 800,000 in expelling the Jews. 
Frederick the Great inHicted a loss of 40,000 on the Aus- 
trians in the conflicts of Leuthen and Leignitz. The battle 
of^ Jena and lesser engagements immediately following, 
i'ost the Prussian army over 80,000 men. At the battle of 
Leipsic, the French suffered casualties to the number of 
160,000 and the Sedes and their allies 40,000 more. 50,- 
000 French and Russian soldiers lay dead and dying on 
the field after the battle of Moskow, and Napoleon again 
lost 47,000 men at Waterloo, and the Duke of Wellington 
15,000 more. — A'etr York Commercial Adrcrtiser. 

REBEL LOSS IN THE WAR. 

Governor Parsons, in his proclamation to the people of 
Alabama, preliminary to reorganization in that State, 
estimates that 120,000 men of that State went upon the 
battle field, of whom 70,000 are dead or disabled. If we 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 121 

fipi)ly the same ratio of enlistments in the otlier States that 

lield out during- tlie war, and make an approximation of 

the numhers sent out from the remainder of the shxve States, 

we sliall have the following interesting tahle : 

Dead and 

State?. Enlistments. Disabled. 

Alabama ] 20.000 7U,000 

Arkansas, say 50,000 30,000 

Florida 17.000 10.000 

(^eorgia 131, UOO Y5.000 

Kentucky, -ay 50.000 SO.OOO 

L'lui.-^iatia, say 50 000 S4,000 

I^fissis-iippi 78. GOO 45.000 

]\[is8oiiri, say 40.000 24.000 

Maryland, say 40 000 24.000 

North Carolina 140.000 So^OOO 

Siiutli Carolina GO, 000 34.000 

Tennes.>.ee, say 60.000 34.000 

'IVxa.s say 93.000 53.000 

A'irgiiiia, say 180 000 105 000 

Tolal 1,124,000 000,000 

If all the men who were once got into tlie rebel army 
were retained during the war, or during their ability to 
serve, there were, according to this calculation, 464,000 men 
in the rebel service at the close of the war. But if allow- 
ances be made for desertion, &c., and for the sick in the 
hospitals who have recovered and are not counted by 
(xovernor l^arsons among the disabled, we shall find this 
number of 464,000 diminisbcd to something like the actual 
number that either surrendered to our forces or scattered 
to their homes immediately after the fall of irichmond. It 
seems, therefore, from this verification of the solution of the 
jiroblem, that Governor I*arsons was not very far from the 
truth, and that we have made about the pro}»er allowances 
in filling up the table. 

PLANNING CAMPaiGNS. 

The following rpiotation from a response made ])y Gene- 
ral Sherman to his reception at St. Louis, gives a good 
general view of the campaigns in which our Southwestern 
army was engaged : 

Here in St. Louis, probably, began the great centre move- 
ment which terminated the war, a battle-field such as never 



122 HISTORY OF THE 

l)cfore was seen, extcndinsr from ocean to ocean almost with 
the right wing and the left wing, and from the centre here 
I remember one evening, up in the old Planter's House, 
sitting with General Ilalleck and General Cnlluni, and we 
were talking ahout this, that and the other, ; a map was 
on the table, and I was explaining the position of the troo]is 
of the enemy in Kentucky when I came to this State. 
General Ilalleck knew well the position here, and I 
remend)cr well the fpiestion he asked me — the question of 
the school teacher to his child — " Sherman, here is the line ' 
how will you break that line ?" " l*hysically, by a perpen- 
dicular force." "Where is the perpendicular T' '• The line 
of the Tennessee River." General Ilalleck is the author 
of that first beginning, and I give him the credit of it with 
pleasure. [Cheers.] Laying dovrn his pencil upon the ma[» 
lie said, "There is the line, and we must take it." The 
capture of the forts on the Tennessee Iliver, by the troops 
led by Grant, followed. [Cheers.] These were the grau'l 
strategic features of that first movement, and it succeeded 
perfectly. 

General ITalleck's went furtlier — not to stop at his first 
line, which ran through Columbus, Bowling Green, crossing 
tlie river at Henry and Douelson, Init to push on to the 
second line, which ran through ^Memphis and Charleston ; 
but tro;d)les intervened at Xashviile, and delays followed: 
opposition to the last movement was made, and I myself was 
brought an actor on the scene. 

I remember our ascent of the Tennessee River; I have 
seen to-night, captains of steamboats who first went with us 
there ; storms came, and we did not reach the point we 
desired. At that time General C. F. Smith was in com- 
mand ; lie was a man indeed; all the old ofiicers remember 
him as a gallant and excellent officer, and had he lived, 
probably some of us younger fellows would not have 
attained our present positions. But that is now past. We 
followed him — the second time — and then came the landing 
of forces at Pittsbura- Landing. WHiether it was a mistake 



SEVENTY-ElGnxn EEGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 123 

in landing tliem on tlie west instead of the east bank, it is 
not necessary now to discuss. I think it was not a mistake ; 
there was gathered tlie iirst great army of the AFest — com- 
mencing with only twelve tliousand, then twent}', then 
thirty thousand, and we had al)out thirty-eight thousand iu 
that battle ; and all I claim for that is, that it was a contest 
for manhood ; there was no strategy. Grant was there, and 
others of us, all young at that time, and unknown men, but 
our enemy was old, and Sidney Johnston, vrliom all the 
officers remembered as a power among the old otlit-ers, high 
above Grant, myself or anybody else, led the enemy on that 
battle-field, and I almost wonder hovv' we con([uered. !But, 
as I remarked, it was a contest for manhood — man to man, 
soldier to soldier. AVe fought, and we held our ground, 
and therefore accounted ourselves victorious. [Cheers.] 

THE MISSISSIPri. 

The possession of the Mississippi river is the possession 
of America, [cheers,] and I say that liad tlie Southern 
Confederacy, (call it b}'- what name you may,) had that 
j)Ower represented by the Southern Confederacy, held with 
a grip sufficiently strong the lower part of the IMississippi 
river, we would have been a subjugated people, and tliey 
would have dictated to us if we had given up tlie possession 
of the lower ^.lississippi. It was vital to us, and we fought 
for it and won. Y7"e determined to have it; but we could 
not go down with our frail boats past the batteries of Vicks- 
burg. It was a physical impossibility ; therefore, what was 
to be done? After the Tallahatchie line was carried, 
Alcksburg was the next point. I went with a small and 
hastily collected force, and repeatedly endeavored to make 
a lodgement on the bluff between Vicksburg an<l Ilaine's 
Blufis, while General Grant moved with his nuiin army so 
as to place himself on the high plateau behind Vicksburg; 
but "man proposes and God disposes," and we failed on 
that occasion. I then gathered my hastily collected force 
and went down further, and then, for the first time, I took 
General 131air and his brigade under mv command. 



124 HISTORY OF THE 

(Jii the very day I had agreed to 1)C there I \vas there, 
and Ave swung our flanks around, and the present Governor 
of Missouri fell a prisoner to the enemy on that day. AVe 
failed. I waited anxiously for a co-operating force inland 
an<l below, but they did not come, and after I had made the 
assault I learned that the depot at Holly Springs had been 
Ijroken up, aud that General Grant had sent me vrord not 
to attempt it. But it was too late. iSTeverlheless, although 
v\-e were unable to carry it at lirst, there were other things 
to l)c done. The war covered such a vast area there was 
j)lenty to do. I thought of that aftair at Arkansas Post, 
rdthough others claim it, and they may have it if they want 
it. AVe cleaned them out there, and General Grant then 
brought his army to A^icksburg, and you in St. Louis 
remember that long winter — how we were on the levee, 
with the waters rising and drowning us like muskrats; 
liow we were seeking channels through Deer Creek and 
Yazoo Pass, aud how we finally cut a canal across the penin- 
sula, in front of Yicksburg. But all that time the true 
movement was the original movement, and everything not 
approximating to it nearer the truth. But we could not 
make any retrogado movement. AVhy? Because your 
people of the ISTorth were too noisy. 

VICKSEURG GRANT — SHERMAN. 

AVe could not take any step backwards, and for tliat 
reason we were com})elledto run the batteries at Vicksburg, 
and make a lod element on the ridges or some of the bluffs 
helow Vicksburg. It is said I protested against it. It is 
folly. I never protested in my life — never. [Laughter.] 
(hi the contrary. General Grant rested on me probably more 
responsibility even than any other commander under him. 
For lie wrote to me : " I want you to move upon Ilaine's 
Blufl', to enable me to pass the next fort below — Grand 
Gulf. I hate to ask you. because the fervor of the ]^orth 
will accuse yon of being rebellious again." [Laughter.] I 
love Grant for his kindness. I did make the feint on 
Haines's Bluffs, and bv that means Grant ran the blockade 



SEVENTT-EIGHTn REGIMENT 0. V. T. I, 125 

easily to Grand Gulf, and made a lodgement down there 
and got his army up on the high }»lateau in the rear of 
Yickshurg, while you people here were beguiled into the 
belief that Sherman was again repulsed. But we did not 
repose confidence in everybody. Then followed the move- 
ment on Jackson, and the 4tli of July placed us in posession 
of that great stronghold, Vicksburg, and then, as Mr. Lin- 
coln said, " the Mississippi went unvexe 1 to the sea," 

From that day to this the war has been virtually and 
properly settled. It was a certainty then. They vrould have 
said, "We give up," but Davis would not ratify it, and he 
liad them under good discipline, and tlierefore it was neces- 
sar}^ to fight again. Then came the affair of Chickamauga. 
The army of the Mississippi lying along its banks were 
called into a new field of action, and so one morning 
early I got orders to go to Chattanooga. I did not know 
where it was hardly. [Laughter.] I did not know tlie road 
to go there. But I found it and got there in time. 
[Laughter and cheers ;] and although my men were shoeless 
and the cold and bitter frosts of winter were upon us, yet 
I must still go to Kuoxville, thirteen miles further, to 
relieve Burnside. That march we made. [A voice; and 
you got there in time.] Then winter forced us to lie ([uiet. 
During that winter I took a little exercise down the river, 
but that is of no account. 



THE IIEGIMEIS^T LEAVIXG THE STATE. 

ITS AREIVAL AT FORT DOXELSON. 



Tlie regiment had been in camp over one mo?itIi, which 
time was actively and daily occnpied in drill, target shoot- 
ino", making scouts;, enclo^^ing an enemy in imagination in 
some ravine ; or in the early morn, before the dawn of day, 
linrrving out of their tents at the sound of the "long roll, '' 
and through snow and over ice' would make a short scont 
and drill and return to camp before breakfast hour. Tlio 
men began earnestly to desire to see and take part in the 
more active operations of tlie field, and try the reality of 
war. Our arms at several important }ioiats had Ijeen snc- 
ce'ssful. The glorious news of the capture of Fort Henry 
on tlie Tennessee Eiver had reached the Xorth, and the reg- 
iment almost feared the war would end without having any 
part in it. 

Gen. Grant was moving up tlie Cnnd^erland with gun 
boats, and a land force from Fort Henry, to attack Fort 
Doncison, whii.-h was the gate to Xashville and ^Middle Ten- 
nessee. On the evening of the 10th of February 18G2, 
Colonel Leggett received orders to [)roceed with the regi- 
ment next morning to Fadueali, Kentucky. That night 
Vv'as bus}- Avith preparations for leaviiig. Friends came in 
throngs to bid the regiment adieu, and look for the last 
time, as it afterwards proved to many, upon a dear son, a 
brother, a husband and friend. The soldiers slept in hope, 
nad next morning rose refreshed and eager, with intense 
anxiety to commence their journey ; very soon " strike tents " 
was sounded by the bugle and in a short time all was in 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 127 

readiness; tlie cami) equipage taken to the depot, and the 
men niarelied to the city. Owing to tlie inclomency of the 
v.'eather, the regiment halted upon tlie br.idge, and awaited 
the arrival of the trains. About 4 P. M. the cars were 
]x^ported ready, and soon the regiment was on its way, arriv- 
ing at Cincinnati next forenoon, and then end^arkcd u[>on 
two steamers for Paducah. Lieutenant-Colonel Hawks 
taking couiniand of tlie left wing upon one boat, and 
Colonel Leggett the right wing upon the other. That 
night was nuide terribly disagreeable by a severe storm of 
wind and snow; the right wing was compelled, in conse- 
(|uenco to anchor till raornijig. The left wing being on a 
better boat, was able to push forward till morning, when 
seeing nothing of the other boat, anchored for two or three 
hours; learning some mishap had befallen tlie right wing 
the boat turned about and steamed up stream in search ; in 
;(, few hours the boats met, and then pushed on to Paducah, 
Avliere they arrived in the afcernoou of the same day. 

Fighting had commenced at Port Donclson. Colonel 
Leggett received orders to draw live day's rations, and 
]»roceed with his regiment to the held of action immedi- 
ately. The ]joa<s were soon on their wa}" up the rapid 
ilowing Cunil)crlan<l. Sevei'id lioats were met on the way, 
leturning from the place of bloody conflict, each of which 
was hailed for tidings. The answer of all w^as the same. 
''Fighting like li — 1. "' The icgiment began to appear 
more serious; some restless with anxiety, w^ishing to get 
on to take part in tlie battle, wdiile others W'Cre restless with 
<h'e id and trembling, as every moment brought them 
nearer the scene of bloody strife and death. The regiment 
arrived within full view of the enemy's works, and 
anchored in the midst of the fleet, about an lu)ur before 
sundown. The tight for the day had neai'l}' subsided. One 
gunboat was up the stream a few rods, throwing an occa- 
sional shell. The writer with some officers got permission 
to go ashore ; we went immediately nearer the field of 
active engagement, to ascertain how matters stood. Ilore 



128 HISTOllT OF THE 

we saw for the first time the burial of the dead on the field 
of battle, which impressed iis with anything but pleasant 
sensations. We ascertained the following to be the posi- 
tion of aitairs, on Saturday evening the 14th, which satis- 
fied us that either the enemy would surrender next morning 
or we have some hard fighting, and the Seventy-Eighth 
Ohio Eegiment have probably a very rough invitation. 

The rebel position was a strong one. The water batteries 
had been successful in so far injuring the gunboats, that 
they could not be of any more service for several days. 
The place must be taken by a land force. The rebel 
defenses were strongly protected l)y a line of rifle-pits, and 
these protected in turn by fallen trees and brush, making 
almost impassable obstructions. The main fort was in 
the rear, and occupied a position on a high ridge, which 
commanded the country for miles in the sweep of its cont- 
m'^n range. The rebel General Flo3'd was in command of 
the works, and next in rank were Generals Pillow and 
Buckner. General IT. S. Grant Avas in conmiand of the 
Federal army, which consisted of three divisions. General 
;McClernand*s Division on the riglit, General Smith's on 
the left, and General Lew AVallace's in the center. 

General Grant cstal)lished his lines on Friday, parallel 
with the rebel line of works, and comjiletely enclosed them. 
On this day some hard fighting took place on our right and 
center. General Wallace made an attack upon a strong 
rebel position; but without much success. The gunboats, 
under command of Admiral Foote, did some very severe 
fighting, losing fifty-four men, killed and wounded, and 
was himself severely wounded in the foot. The Admiral, 
seeing his boats doing fine execution, thought he was about 
being successful in silencing the rebel l)atteries commanding 
the river, but at that moment a shot disabled one boat, and 
the other was so l)adly injured that it was compelled to 
float down stream to get out of range of the enemy's gnns. 
That Friday night was one of great suffering and hard- 
ship to the troops, who slept without tents or fire, and 



SEVENTY-SIGHTH EEGIMEXT 0- V. V. I. 129 

wltliin rifle sliot of tlic eiiemy's works. The mglit was 
dark, and soon a cold lieavv rain began to fall, and finallv- 
turned into sleet and snow, witli fierce tempests of wintry 
wind. Occasionally tka skarp crack of iha pickets' rifle 
was licard over the sound of the agitated forest^ and 
bending and breaking trees. In tkis cold, pelting storni tlie 
men lav witliout a murmur, upon their arms, ready for tlie 
terrible storni of the next day's conllict. -^ * * 

-■- General Grant having the enemy closely invested, 
determined to hold them in tlieir po.-iltion, and storni them 
into a surrender, but the rebel Floyd, fearing this same things 
decided that he would, the next morning, concentrate his 
forces upon General McClcrnand, who held our right, and 
cut his way out and escape tovrards Xashville. This caused 
the niOi't terrible lighting on Saturday, and well nigh did 
Floyd accoraphsh his pLin. The day vras damp and cold ; 
at dawn of day the soldiers rose from their u'lntry resting 
place, and soon were standing shivering in their ranks, but 
cohl frost and snow were soon forgotten, and unfelt, as the 
heavy roar of the enemy's gun^, and the rapid musketry 
liring broke the morning's stillnes-^. The battle-iield Vv^'ls 
made up of hills and ravines, all covered with dense forest. 
On every commanding eminence artillery was placed, Vvdiicli 
belched forth shot anJ shell into our linos l)i'l aw. Through 
the dense woods the battle surged backward and forward, 
till our advance regiments on the right, overpowered by 
overwhelming numbers, gave way, and were driven back 
from their lirst position. At one time the enemy threatened 
to sweep the entire battle-tield, and even broke through 
ilcOlernand's Yinn, M'Oallister's Battery of four twenty- 
four pouiiders, wliieh had poured S) much doath into the 
rebel ranks, could do nothing more to prevent the advance 
o'i the enemy. Captain ^FCallister had fired away his last 
round of ammunition ; had part of liis horses killed, three 
guns disable.!, and the remaining one abandoned to tho 
rebels. 





130 HISTOKT OF TDK 

Here we might remark that this battery has heen con- 
nected with the Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corp?;, 
throughout the entire war. The day now seemed to be 
almost lost to any one with a less determination than 
General Grant, and nothing to prevent Floyd to make hi» 
way out into the open country, but General AYallacQ 
p)romptly — at General Grant's suggestion — dispatched a 
]>rigade to assist jVrClernand on the extreme right. This 
brigade went into the fight on the " double-quick," and with 
a, determined will, inflicting sad havoc in the enemy's rank!«i, 
AVood's Battery was now brought into position on the road^ 
where the rebels had routed a brigade of ]\l'Clernand"8 
Division, and were trying to ilank the brigade just sent br 
Wallace to support the right, and sent its shot and sliell 
with so much precision and deadly effect into the massed 
rebel troops, that they were compelled to retire, leaving 
hundreds of their dead, mangled and dying comrades in our 
liands, and give up the victory they could almost, a moment 
before, have grasped; but many who one minute saw their 
way clear to Nashville, in the next vrere torn to pieces by n 
cannon shot, or pierced through the brain by a Minie ball, 
and sent with "military dispatch," to account for more than 
one rebellion. General Wallace at this time joined anoth-er 
brio:ade on the ris-ht. 

General Grant now appeared upon the field ; duri)ig the 
time of this severe fighting, in order to push his lines 
forward, he had been in consultation v\'ith Admiral Foote. 
Seeing the efi:brt the enemy was making to break his liiiCi', 
and the almost completion of their object, ordered an innnc- 
diate charge of all his forces on the enemy's work?. 
"Wallace le<l the charge on the right, and General Smilli on 
the left. At 3 o'clock, P. M., the bugle sounded forward. 
General Smith led the advance, and onward the living mai^s 
of warriors moved. Tlie enemy poured down the hills and 
through the brush and timber an unbroken sheet of fire, 
which caused many openings in the ranks of tlie charging 
column ; but these were soon filled up, and onward thej 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. L 181 

moved. The Seventh Iowa and another reghnont were 
soon on the top of the enemy's work.-;, and cno;aged in h 
hand-to-hand combat with the rohels. The enemy soon 
])rokc and lied, leaving General Smith in possession of th« 
works, .who quickly jiad artillery placed in position to hear 
upon the inner lines of rebel works. The right was aldo 
successful. Thus ended the strife for that day. Fighting 
ceased, and quietness reigned along the whole line, except 
tlie moaning of the wounded and dying. 

The next morning was determined upon to assault the 
inner works. But during the night Floyd anl Pillow, 
under cover of darkness and a dense fog, crossed the river 
in llatboats with a portion of their troops and fled, and 
desired Buckner to do the same; but he promptly told 
Floyd "ho would share the fate of his men." General 
Bnckner now being in command of the rebel fort, sent a 
llag of truce early on Sunday morning to General Grant, 
to know on what terms he could surrender. To which 
Grant replied: "I demand an immediate and unconditional 
surrender. I propose to move upon your works at once." 
From this reply he is named the "Unconditional Surrender 
Grant," which corresponded so exactly with the initials of 
his name. 

The troops had now been exposed to cold and hardships, 
without fire, tents or coiiee, for two days and nights. That 
Saturday night, after the most terrible lighting throughout 
the day, with now depleted rtmks, the troops again lay upon 
tlicir arms, and at day-dawn Sabbath morning, with cold 
and stiffened limbs, again take their places in ranks to 
move upon the last strong position of the enemy, where 
tiicy knevv" that many of their number, ere many minute* 
would pass by, must meet death. As the troops were 
rapidly being drawn up in line of battle, and the assaulting 
column taking position, a bugle sound was heard within th=e 
enemy's works, and in a few minutes a white flag was seen 
moving upon the rebel ramparts. AV^ild excitement and 
cheer after cheer went forth from the ranks of the Federal 



132 HISTORY OF THE 

troops. It was taken np hx regiment after regiment, until 
it swept along the entire line. The fort liad surrendered. 
About this time the Seventj-Eighth Ohio Eegiment had 
rebelled the battle-groivad, having started early in the 
luoriiiDg })repartd for engaging in the anticipated strngglo 
of the day, but only in lime to join in the exultation of 
joyfid viet( ry. 

About eii htcan Ihousand I'lirjoners were taken, thi]ty-ono 
thousand snudl arms, and al)out eighty eannon, besides large 
amounts of oj-duauee, and coniDnssary stores. 

The importance of this victory was not tlie mere pos- 
s'ession i)f Fort Donelson only, but it gave ns iN'ashvillo 
and the unoisprted possession of the Cuuiberland river. 
Xashville, during the progress of this battle, was intensely 
excited wiih h(:p.cs and fears. On Saturday a dispatch had 
been received that the victory Avas theirs; the Federal 
troops had been dei'oated. Y\'ibl enthusiasm and joyful 
exultation swept through the city tliat night, and the 
ehurc'.i belis on Subbath nun-ning were calling the people 
together to give thanks for victory. Bu.t, iii the midst of it 
all, the news v/as received ann.onricir.g '"That Fort Don- 
clson had surrendered 'to the Yankees,' with ail its vast 
stores of supplies, except Floyd, who had made go(,.d \u:> 
escape." This was like an electric sintck, stunning and 
paraiy/ing the hearts or the people, so jubilant ja.-.t then 
Vv'ith joy. 

'Jlie Sabliath was spent ii! Innwing tlie dead on the battle- 
iield. The Seventy-Eighth ])ivouaeed that da.y in a largo 
corn tiebl, without teirts or shelter. About midnight a heavy 
I'ain set in, v;hich continued vvdthout intermission for two 
days, 'idio r.ext day the regiment moved into the vroods 
and coiistrncted tcujporary sliclters of rails and brush. 

Colonel Ijcggett being that day a.iijtointed " Post Com- 
rnamler,"' received orders in the evening to move hi.> 
"regiment into the town of J-)over, and encamp it close ])y 
tlie river I'or post duty.'' Here the regiment encountered 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 133 

liardslilps that cannot be forgotten. The pUicc, and tlic 
only phxce suitable that was near the town, was just ])eh)w 
town, wliore all it:4 li'tJi naturally collec'to;!, and whore dead 
rebels had been buried loss than a foot deep, and the rand 
extended still deeper. The stench was so great that after 
the men had their tents |)itehed they were seized with tits 
of vomiting. lu a Yew days sickness prevailed to such an 
extent that ouieers became alarmed. General Leggett was 
prostr^ited. Lieutenant-Colonel Hawks was down, and 
it, vras foar.cd, beyond tlie hope of recovery. ]}.Iaj'>r 
CarnaJiau, Chaplain Todd aiid Surgeon Reeves were active 
m their clForts to alleviate and better the condition of the 
men. The regiment rehiained here on active duty until the 
Gtli of March. Many were noiv upon the sick list, who 
were soot to tlie general hospihil. The regiment had 
received its lirst iustalhiient of pay; letters from home 
Ijcgan now to co;ne and cheer the soldiers' heart, and drive 
partially away home-sickness, which nearly all must expe- 
rieui-e, who for the first time in their live? leave tliei." 
families at a great distance, and for a long time. This 
disease lias not been considered a malady, hence it has 
b'een used in derision; but in tlio army it is a disease v»diicli 
djpresjes all the feelings and energies to such an extent 
t'lat the soldier soniatimj^ dies in consequence. Time will 
only correct this, and the soldier b3com3 more cheerful, and 
c-veryLliing around him present a more lively appearance. 
It takes time to make a soldier, and time and experience 
to learn hovr to make the most of everything, ]>v way of 
kee[)ing the future bright, and hope always buoyant. 

The little town of Dover was not such a ]tlaee as to 
awak(3n emotions of cheorfalness, but everytliing to the 
<'v)ntrary.. It is a onesided town, built on a hillside, and is 
on the opposite siAe of Union sentiment. It contains a court 
liouse, jail, and a small meeting house, besides about one 
liundred other small houses, all old, shattered and ragged. 
But few of the inhabitants remained at their desolate 
homes. 



GE^^ERALS GRAXT AXD SHERMAIS^. 



After tlic victory to onr arms at Fort Donelson, General 
Grant became popular and known in the nation, and rose 
to great favor in tlie arniv. 

Four years ago, and montlis after the "war began, the 
name of General Grant was unknown to the world. He 
liad a list of acquaintances ]io longer than any other citizen, 
ftnd it does not appear that he stood high among those who 
knew him. He was thought to be an ordinary sort of 
person, who would never "set the river a-fire," as the 
saying is. He tried to get a small scientific employment in 
the State of Missouri, but the gentlemen who had the place 
in their g-ift decided that he was not fit for it ! Such was 
tlieir estimate of a man, who, if he could not serve a county, 
was to show that he could save a country. 

The truth is, great men must have great occasions, or 
their greatness Vvall remain unknown, and in most cases as 
unknown to themselves as to all the rest of the world. 
The poet Gray speaks of flowers that are born to blush 
unseen, and which waste their sweetness on the desert air; 
and so it is with some men. They have the intellect that is 
necessary to achieve the fame that comes from doing famous 
deeds, but the opportunity for doing such deeds never 
comes to them. So it would have been in the case of Gen- 
eral Grant, in all probability, if the slaveholders had not 
sought to destroy the country. That led to a great war, 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 185 

j%!k1 as war is the business for which General Grant is pre- 
eminently qualified, he achieved the first place in it. Tha 
hour came, and the man was not wanting to it. 

General Grant had some difliculty in getting military 
employment. Ilis path to usefulness and eminence was 
beset with even more than the usual difliculties. Ilis earlier 
actions did not indicate any marked degree of superiority ; 
iuid many men seemed to be his superiors whom he has 
long since passed, and thrown into the shade, by the magni- 
tude and value of his achievements. He has had to pay for 
tlie development of his talents, which are of the grave and 
solid order, not showy and superficial. As ladies say of 
cloths, his abilities " wash." They are not of the kind that 
disappear under showers, nor do they fade in the sun. 

It was not until the second year of the war was closing 
that men began to hope that the long-expected coming man 
liad come at last. General Grant's services as commander 
never were called for until a case become desperate, and 
then he set matters right. We had failed in the South- 
west, and he was required to assume command there. He 
obej^ed, and after defeating the enemy in half a dozen 
battle:?, he shut up their army in Vicksburg, and compelled 
it to surrender. He was then ordered to Chattanooga, 
where the rebels had our forces at bay, and he obeyed, and 
tliere he served Bragg as previously he had served Johnston, 
storming positions which had been considered impregnable, 
and opened the way for General Sherman's grand march to 
the sea-shore, conquering Georgia and the Carolinas as he 
went " marching on." He was ordered to Virginia, where 
we had been baflled through three years. To hear was to 
obey, with him, and in the spring of '64 the conqueror of 
Johnston was measured against Lee. What followed is 
well known. He drove the enemy to Richmond, after a 
aeries of bloody battles ; shut them up in their lines ; 
defeated all their attempts to better their condition ; main- 
tained his hold on the- Confederacy's throat with unflinch- 
ing tenacity; and finally compelled the rebels to abandon 



13S BISTOET OF THE 

Petersbnrg and Eiclimond, and tiicn to sniTcnder in {lie 
fieldy tLe *' inviriciblc " Lee himself signing articles of 
capitnlation. These were his deeds, and they have made 
an imprcssioii on the popuhir mind that "vvill endure, and 
wliich linds expression in hearty action as he Jonrnej& 
through the countiy, though he prohably cares less for 
attentions than any eminent American who has Hved since 
Washington. The latter was a reserved man, and had been 
trained in a state of society in which distinctions were very 
F-trong, even stronger than thej are in England at tins day^ 
and there was little that was democratical in his nature as 
in his training-. But General Grant's reserve is simply a 
natural feeling. He is fond of cpiiet, and has never mad^ 
a speech in his life, and it seems that he is destined never 
to make one. Had he been born in Sparta he could not 
have been more laconic than he is, though he is a native of 
a, country in which everybody is supposed to talk, and to 
talk much. 

General Grant is in his foi-fy-fourtli ycar,'as he was born 
on the 27th of April, 1822, in Ohio. It was not nntil 1859 
that he took up his residence at Galena, in Illinois, where 
he embarked in the leather and saddlery business, his father 
being his partner. His previous attempts in civil pursuits 
had all been failures, but at Galena he was successful. He 
left the regular armj^, in which he had become Captain, in 
1854. He married in 1843, his bride being Miss Dent, a 
liidy of Missouri. He resumed military life in 1861, not 
long after the beginning of the war. His first office was 
that of Adjutant- General of Illinois, and his first field 
service was in command of the Twentj'-First Illinois 
Infantry. As his cpialities became known lie Avas pron\oted, 
until he became the foremost man of tlie American world. 
He owes his success to his lionesty and tenacity of pur]3ose, 
as much as to his rare abilities as a soldier, and hence his 
career affords matter of profitable study to the youth of the 
republic, who can see in it that integrity and resolution are 
necessary to conduct men to fame and usefulness. 



SEVEXTT-EICnTn REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 137 

GENERAL SHERMAN. 

AVith tliQ Pinglo exception of General Grant, no man 
BtandtB so Ligli as General Sherman in the estimation of 
the country, when military merit is considered. Both of 
them are a])le soldiers, but they are very unlike, mentally ; 
and their moral qualities also present remarkable points of 
contrast. General Grant is singularly quiet and retiring. 
General Sherman, without being encroaching or obtrusive, 
is as singularly demonstrative. He does not speak because 
he tliinks that his opinions are of value, or that others 
are anxious to know them, but because it is his nature to 
1)0 bold, frank and open. He acts according to the law of 
Ills being in talking freely, as General Grant does in 
keeping silent. They have strong points of resemblance, 
nevertheless, — for both are honest men, and both have 
rendered incalculable service to the re})ul;iic. It v^ould be 
hard to say which of the two we could best spare, and 
therefore it is to be hoped that we shall have them with us 
for many years. 

General Sherman is in the prime of life. lie vras born 
on the 8th of February, 1820, at Lancaster, t3hio, he being, 
like General Grant, a "Buckeye," as Ohioans are called. 
He entered West Point Academy in 1836, and was there 
graduated in 1840, standing well in his class. The artillery 
was his arm of the service, and he served in Florida,^ South 
Carolina, California and Louisiana. Like Grant, he never 
got higher than the rank of Captain in the old regular 
army; and then, again like Grant, he retired,>and vrent iiit > 
business. He was at San Francisco, manager of a banking 
house, from 1853 to 1857. 

In 1858 he took charge of the State Military Academy 
of Louisiana, but he left the oflice early in 18G1, when it 
became apparent that the disunionists were getting control 
of the South. " On no earthly account, " he wrote to the 
Governor of Louisiana, "will I do any act, or think any 
thought, hostile to, or in defiance of the old government 
of the Fruited States. " Such was the emphatic language 



138 niSTORY OF THE 

of this true patriot. lie went to "Washington and was 
made Colonel, and commanded a brigade at Bull Run, 
which behaved well. He was subsequently promoted, and 
employed at difl'erent points of the West and South-west, 
and made a vigorous attack on Vieksburg, at the close of 
1862, which failed. He was the real hero of the battle of 
Shiloh, in April, 1862, General Grant declaring that the 
defeat of the enemy was owing to him. 

In the operations that led to the fall of Vieksburg, 
General Sherman had a conspicuous part ; and not less 
prominent and useful were his actions in that important 
campaign which saw the defeat of Bragg and Longstreet in 
Tennessee, and which caused 1863 to end so triumphantly 
to our arms. In the following winter ho was actively 
employed at difierent points, and ever with effect. 

When General Grant proceeded to the East to take com- 
mand in Virginia, he was succeeded in the South-west b}' 
General Sherman. The two Generals formed a grand plan 
of operations for 1864; and on the 7tli of May General 
Sherman began his forward movement at the head of 98,790 
Boldiers and 2'51 guns. Atlanta was the immediate olyect 
of the movement ; and after almost four months of hard 
marching, and harder fighting, Atlanta was taken, on the 
2d of September. It was a tremendous campaign, but the 
ekill of the General, admirably supported by the bravery of 
his men and the talents of his Lieutenants, surmounted 
ever^'thing, and the enemy felt the blows dealt them in 
Georgia throughout the whole Confederacy. General 
Sherman's reputation as a great soldier was admitted in all 
parts of the world. That reputation was soon to be im- 
mensely increased. 

Believing that nothing was done while anything remained 
to be done. General Sherman prepared to move upon 
Savannah ; and in jSTovembcr, at the head of an army said 
t-b have been almost 70,000 strong, he began a march that 
astounded the country. Place after place fell before his 
advance, every effort of the rebels to resist proving vain. 



SEYENTY-EIGUTII REGIMENT 0. V. Y. L 130 

On the 2 1st of December lie entered Savannah. That place 
lie made the base of fartlier operations, the success of wliich 
sliould still more ^completely demonstrate the weakness ot 
the enemy. 

About the middle of January, 18(55, this great commander 
l)Cg:an the last of his great marches, the object of which 
was the conquest of the Carolinas. Onward he went, the 
('arolinians being as little able to stay his advance as the 
Georgians had been. Charleston, which had defied us for 
four years, wps abandoned without a fight, so completely 
had his combinations isolated it. Columbia, the capital of 
South Carolina, where secession had been hatched, was taken 
and partially destroyed. In short, South Carolina, that land 
of invincible chivalry, was subdued in a few vv^eeks. Then 
came Xorth Carolina's turn ; and old Eip Yan Winkle was 
waked up by the noise of the Federal army. That State 
^v;is soon at the Generars mercy ; and pre})aratious had 
been made for the march of his forces into Virginia, there 
to take part in the destruction of Lee, when General Grant 
took liichmond, and forced Lee to surrender. Shortly 
afterwards General Johnston surrendered to General 
Sherman, which act of rendition virtually put an end to 
the war. 

General Sherman is an indefatigable worker, as well as a 
bold and scientific fis^htino; man. His victories were as 
mucli due to his industry as to his skill and his valor. lie 
showed immense mental resources on every occasion. lie 
ha:? a true genius for war, being a born soldier. He takce 
great care of his troops, and they are much attached to him 
in return. He wins the hearts of those whom he commands, 
and in that way he is enabled to win great victories. Hi» 
men ever were ready to go through fire and water for him, 
and did so go on an hundred fields. 



THE EEGIMEXT LEAVIXG EiOTER AXD LAXDIXG 
XEAR FOllT IIEXRY. 

THEXCE TO PITTSBUna LAX'DIXG, AXD BATTLE OF SniLCII. 



The regiment left Daver, March 7tli, 1802, and encamped 
that night at BoU's Iron Furnace. The hills around were 
jich witli iron ore, which were a source ot" great wealth to 
the owner. The land is poor and unsuitahie for agricul- 
tural purposes, consequently few improvements were seen 
on the march. The furnace was a verv extensive estahlish- 
ment and turned out immense quantities of iron, vdiich v\'as 
then being appropriated as material of war ; it was there- 
fore destrovcd, bcino- burned down bv command of Goneral 
Grant. 

The regiment bivouaced in the valley, and slept comforS 
al)1y under the frosty canopy^; any place was regarded v.?- 
l)etter than the miasmatic camping grounds of the Cum- 
berland. The next morning was clear and beautiful, and 
soon the Trost disappeared from the blankets, before the 
extensive fires built of the many negro huts, around the 
I'urnace ; these huts had been deserted a fevr days before, 
by tlieir occupants, some taking refuge in the army and 
many having been driven away toother, but more secure 
])laces. That day after a tedious march over hills and 
bad roads, and swampy valleys, we encamped at Metal 
Landiug, about four miles above Fort Henry on the Ten- 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGLMENT 0. V. V. L 141 

no?soc ; here tlic rcg-iraciit, -wi.li Genoi-al Low WuUaco"? 
Division, rcniaiiiod lv)r several dajs, which tiuio Avas 
s[)cnt hi ahiiost constant drilh The regiment here expe- 
i-ienced' inueli di:-;agreeahlG weather, one day was halniy 
warmth, another rain, another snov/ storms and iVeezing 
(okh Here occurred the iirst deatli iu the regh.nent, 
(Jeorixe Iiitcliey of A Coni})any, a young man of much 
jii-omiso and ingldy esteemed hy alh Previously he had 
lieon sent to the hospital, wliere he so far recovered as to 
he ahle to go to his liome a lew weeks, where he could 
recover his liealth more rapidly, hut instead of crahracing 
the ])rivilego of a fr.rloiigh, he returii to liis regiment, 
■ r,' iu a few ihiys ho die;!. Hero the first loyal seeds 
\-as sown in rchel soil by the regiment, the first saeriiice to 
ril}erty made, and lioreufter in almost every encampment 
1 iH^'agliout the South some one was lei't, as a testimony to 
devoted patriotism, and against the purposes of Vvdcked 
I'ijhelhon. 

At this time the seeds of disease and dehilih' planted at 
Dover, and hy hardships and. unaccustomed exposure, hegan 

' tell upon the regiment. ]Men were ]iot inured to the 
jiurdsliips and exposiu'cs of field and camp life; transition 
IVom civil to military life had l^een too great and sudden 
' e climate an.d the season v\-ero unhealthy; and cold, 

nstaut rains prevailed, v/hich circumstances p)roduced 
ii.acli sickness. 

On the IGthday of ]\Iarch tlie Division left ^detal Landing 
;' r i'ittshnrg Landhig, arrivhig at the latter]. lace the night 
of the 17th. The regiment did not disembark from th© 
hoats, but on the morning of the 18th v^^ent to Crum[)t's 
landing, six miles below, where it disembarked and en- 
camped iu the woods, about one mile from the Landing. 
It will be remembered that the regiment was now and 
will hereafter be connected witli the Third Division, undfr 
(Jeneral Lew Wallace. Here the regiment spent its timy in 
<lrill and reviews. Some men hceame so reduced from camp 
dl-jca.SG (which defied all the elibrtd and skill of our 



142 HISTORY OF THE 

Surgeons) thr.t it became necessary to make application for 
tJieir discliargo from the service, wliicli was favorably con- 
sidered, but not returned till many of the men had received 
their final discharge, and had gone to their last resting 
place; and many, we have reason to hope, "to that rest 
which remaineth for the people of God." At tliis time 
many of the officers were sick. Captain Tallcy, of Company 
C, was taken down with a violent attack of typhoid fever, 
and being sent to the general hospital at Savannah, died in 
a few days. General Leggctt, then commander of the 
regiment, although severely sick and uniit for duty, could 
always be seen encouraging the men and setting an example 
to officers, in energy, cheerfulness and resolution to meet 
trials and difficulties with an unconquerable will; he v/ell 
knew that ennui and inactivity fed disease in the army, and 
that the best antidote-was to bear up against it. ^Mauy men 
at once gave up and lay down, seemingly with the resolu- 
tion to die, and such most generally did die ; many, bj 
cheerfulness and a resolution that the}- would not give up to 
disease, thereby threw it off, and. became well and. robust. 
Those who survived the iirst attack of camp disease, 
generally become afterwards strong and robust men. It 
seemed to be a kind of a chrysalis slate through which 
men had to pass in order to become lit ted for military iilc, 
and adaptation to climate. 

On the 3ist of March the Division left this place and 
moved to Adamsville, eight miles from Tittsburg Landiug. 
The sick were left at Crump's Landing, in charge </f 
Assistant-Surgeon Mcndenhall. Here many died and some 
were transferred to Northern hos]iitals. 

The design of moving the Division to Adamsville was to 
protect the Hank of the army under General Grant, then 
concentrating at Pittsburg Landing. The road occuirled 
by General Lew. Wallace's Division was the main thor- 
oughfare to Purdy and Corinth, Avhcrc the j'ebel army 
under Generals Albert Sidney Johnston and Beauregard 
was concentrated. The rebel outposts extended about 
twenty miles from the main army, and but a few milesi 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 143 

from our pickets. The first night the rGgimciit encamped 
fit Adamsville General Leggett took one hundred men of 
Ids regiment and marched in the darkness of midniglit 
eight or ten miles to a creek, where there was a rebel 
encampment, burned the bridge and terrified the rebels so 
that they fled to Purdy. Every moment while at this 
place, an attack was expected, consequently the pickets 
^vere strengthened, and evciy precaution observed. Every 
morning at dawn the troops were all up and in battle line; 
and a few more regiments were brought up as re-enforce- 
mcnts. 

A few nights before the attack upon our army at 
Pittslnirg Landing, rebel scouts were known to havs 
nearl}' encircled our camps and the limits of the Division, 
?4,nd strange and wonderful it seems to veteran soldiers nov/, 
that little etfort was made towards fortifications. In tho 
latter part of the war the same troops would not hav« 
pitched camp till good works had been completed, and tlia 
entire limit of the encampment well protected. The same 
was the condition of the main army at Pittsburg Landing . 
no preparations for defense had been made. Li a council of 
war on the part of the rebel officers, it was decided by 
Peaurcgard and others to make tlie attack upon the army 
on the flank at Adamsville, but Albert Sidney Johnston 
l;eing chief in rank, overruled the decision, and ordered tli© 
attack to be made upon the main army at Pittsburg Land- 
ing, regarding the force at Adamsville as too trifling h) 
\s'aste time upon; a division of six thousand men would 
6<)on have been destroyed Ijefore an army of ninety thousand. 

It v\'as reported by rebel prisoners and citizens, that 
(Jeneral Beauregard had been in our camp, both at Pittsburg 
Landing and Adamsville, as a peddler of pies and cakes, a 
day or two before the attack upon our army. 

BATTLE OF SIIILOII. 

On Sabbath morning, April 6th, the terriljle conflict 
commenced at Pittsburg Landing. Our army, with General 
Lew A\"allace''s Pi\-ision, wliich was yet at Adam.svilk, 



144: HISTOr.Y OF THE 

numbered belAveen fifty and f^ixty tlioiisand men. The rebels 
ninety thousand. The army eneamped around Shiloh 
Cliurch, about four miles from the Landing. Our troops 
exhibited great carelessness in liaving no defenses con- 
structed, and permitting tliomselves tluis to be surprised, 
so that the rei)cls had possession of much of our line of 
Ixittle, before our forces had time to form in line. The three 
divisions of Sherman, Prentiss and M'Clernand were in the 
advance, and formed a line taking in all the roads toAvards 
Corinth and l*urdy. General Ilurlburt and Smith were 
in the rear. 

The rebel army on Saturday niglit encamped witliin a 
few rods of our pickets, and couild hear dl.stincily our 
Orderly Sergeants calling the rolls at tattoo. General 
I'eauregard commanded the I'lght of the rebel army, Geu- 
ei-al Breckinridge the left, and General Albert Sidney 
Juhnstou the center. 

On Sabbath, at morning dawn, the pickets of Prentiss 
and Sherman were driven in, and the rebels came in a swift 
overwhelming rush. The "long roll" sounded through 
tlie camps of the Federal army, but ere our men got into 
line, the long sweeping lines of the enemy were pressing 
forv\-ard with trifling resistance, and their shot and shell 
came crashing into our camps thick and fast. The enemy 
at fa'st came marching by the Hank, halted, then faced to "' 
the rear, and inunediately about-faced, within a ffejw rods j 
of our lines, sent their vollevs into our ranks that were -V 
standing in line of battle. V^e were com[)lcte]y surprised, i 
supposing them to be General Lew. AVallace's Division, •• 
coming from Adamsville, taking position in front. So- 
ciudden was the dash of the enemy that some of our officers 
and men were bayoneted in their tents. ^ 

General Grant did not arrive upon the field till half-past 
eight ill the morning, consecpiently there could be little 
concentration of action. Each General had as much as 
he could do to hold his men to the work, and meet with 
iirmness the shock. 



SEVEXTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I, 145 

Prentiss' command was flanked by the enemy and soon 
oiielosed, and tlius four thousand of his men were taken 
])nsoiiers. (U'ueral Sherman fought with the most terrible 
desperation, Init being overvvhehiied was compelled to retreat 
to save his Division from annihilation. The fighting on 
the part of McClernand was most obstinate and desperate. 
By noon nearly all* our batteries had lost their horses, and 
many guns were captured, and the whole line driven back 
to llurlbut's and tSmitli's DivLsions, where the fighting 
become most deadly to both armies. Albert Sidney 
Johnston was killed in leading a charge upon oar lines. 
Here the rebels were repulsed three or four times, but 
succeeded in breaking tlicm finally. Slowly our shattered 
lines were driven back toward tlic Lauding. About 5 P. 
M., Major AVebster, of General Grant's Staft', saw that the 
work was nearly done, and our army almost com})letely 
defeated and routed, collected all the guns he could, mul 
artillerists from the difterent commands, and placed them in 
a crescent forni. \\"hen the rebels came charging tovviird 
the Landing, and flushed with victory, thinking before dark 
to end the conflict by complete disaster to the L^nion armv, 
twenty-one guns broke forth at once, and poured such a 
deadly lire into the rebel ranks that tliey recoiled. The 
gunboats at this time getting the range, sent their I'airolt 
shells thick and fast into tlie rebel ranks, that made them 
retreat in confusion beyond their range. 

At this time light and hope began to break from the diuk 
cloud that hung with terror over our men. The sun was 
fast declining, night was near to stay the onemv's final 
.success. One of General Buell's Divisions, under command 
of General Nelson, was rapidly crossing the river and 
taking position. Another Division was up and ready to 
cross. General Lew. Wallace's Division was also ra})itllv 
]tauring in, and taking position upon the extreme riofbt^ 
The enemy nuule repeated efibrts to charge before dark, 
but \vere driven back with frightful slaughter. They 

10 



liG JIISTORT OF TMB 

iinnily fell hack to our camp?, and waited tlie morning licclit 
to complete Bca\iregard's "iionr job," as be promised tliem, 

SECOND DAI'h r.ATTLE. 

TliG following letter, from Jasper 8. Langldii-j, Sergeant 
Company E, will give in detail, a sntEcient account of the 
second day^s tighting, wliicli opeiu,'d at daylight, by Genera! 
Lew. Wallace, on the right: 

*-0n Sahbatli morning we ^','cre aronf'cd from onrhlanket 
C'onelu'fi hj the booming of cannon h\ the direction of 
Pittsburg Landing. The roar was incesi^ant, and shook Vao- 
earth. In the interval between the discharges of nrtillery, 
the rolling- of musketry vollies could be distincily licard, 
nnd then were swallowed n[? by the renewed thunder of 
tl)C cannon. All were aware that a terrible fight was m 
jirogress ; yei the regiment was igiTornrit of the magnitude . 
oi' the; attack, and the part they were to jday in the bloody 
drama, initi] about noon, wlieu an order came for us to 
reinforce the assailed posifiou. Unlbrtnnately for the 
jScventy-Eighth, it luul not ])cen fnrnislied T/itli tran?p(M'- 
tatiou of its own nntil tliixe days before, and then we were 
funiished will'! about fortv wild n.nilcr-., many of wliirh had 
never bceji under harness; these had to be cauglit aixl 
Jianicsscd, and the delay occasioned thereby thiew our 
regiment in tlie rear, and it did not ariive npon the Ijattle- 
tiekl irniil i) o'clock that niglit, wlien Ave fonncd in ](;itt!(^ 
line, and rented npon onr arms till morning, nnslicltcred 
jrom a furious storm of rni)>. The fii'st day's tight wny- now 
over, and almost decided in favor of the rebels, but how 
Ihcy were to get over our guns an<l ii'unboats at the Land- 
ing the next morning, was surely a jius'.zling question to U:e 
ivbd Generals tliat night. 

"About o'clock i-^abbatli afternoon cur prosjecij: ]( ckcd 
gloouiy and dark. Forty thou.sa.nd of our men had stub- 
bornly contest(>d, foot b-y i'oot, the ground o.f a wiiieiy 
extended camp, with a hundred thousand of the be^t aiuud 
and equipped trco];s the ►^'outheni ("onfc<leiaey e\( r st nt to 
Iho f.eld. They ht;d i( rght all ihv, wiihout hie: kf;st, 



SEVENTT-EIGIITII REGIMENT 0. V. V. I, 147 

fliniior or snppor. The enemy, wlio were in siifficiont 
imnibors to relievo each otlier in the tight, had feasted all 
day on cheese, cakes, liquors and canned fruits, -whicli the 
al)an<h)ned sutler stores fui'nished in great ahunchmce. 
'Hwy V\-ere flushed witli their success, and liad niadcU-ned 
themselves by driid<:ing tlic li([Uoi-s they had captured, 
luixir.g it with gunpowder. Cheer after clieer went up 
from their ranks. They were now al)0ut half a mile from 
the river, and still pressing on. Our Generals rode through 
the disordered and thin ranks of our exhausted men, many 
of whoin were lying on tlie ground too Aveary to move, 
strivisig to animate and encourage them. Here our artillery 
saved the day. All the batteries that had been brought oif 
the field, and the siege guns and heavy mortars, which had 
not been moved from the river, were brought into action, 
and in front of our vrearied ranks. The gunboats also 
opened their broadsides upon the enemy, and rained do\\-n 
a storm of shot, gra[)e and shell which lias no precedent in 
the records of artillery warfare. The thunder was terrific. 
It seemed as though all the elements of destruction in 
nature luid imited their power, rage and violence. The 
rebels at flrst lay fiat, l)ut finally retreated. Their men who 
were cavttured tell inci'cdible stories about tlie effect of (Mir 
fire; such as that a slicll from one of our mortars, falling 
among a dense mass, killed and wounded one thousand men. 

'■liuell's forces began to couk* in about dark, and during 
the night our plans were arranged for the next day. in t'lc 
morning our Generals matle the attack simultaneously 
along the whole line of the enemy. General Lew. AVallace, 
with his Division on the right, the Third 13rigade uiKh'i- 
(General Whittlesey, l)eing on the right of the J)ivislon. 
(Jeuei-al Wallace kept the Urigade in jtartial concealment 
from the enemy, to mci't the pui'poses of the rebels in 
ilaidciug the riglit.. I'his was a Xi'vy }i;;iid"ul ])osition, and :i 
Iryirig- one to the soldiei-s. It made it necessary that Wf 
should remain ];ai't of the time inactive, under th« fire of the 
relicl batteries and infantiy. Thus exposed to all thv 



148 nrsTOKY of the 

dangers of tlie conflict, and snrronndcd by all its terrors, 
and at the same time deprived from the stimnlns of the 
excitement which results from an active participation in the 
light, is truly a trying position. 

"The expected attempt of the enemy to outflank the right 
was finally made ; when they found that our center, against 
which they had been directing their main ettbrts, could not 
be broken, they brought up rapidly S'^me of their guns, 
and began })laying upon our right, preparatory to making 
u charge. This was a sore time for the Third Brigade, 
which %vas unsheltered from the Are of the enemy, AVhen 
the batteries opened upon us, we all laid as close to mother 
earth as possible, while the shot and shell flew whizzing 
over our heads. Had we been standing erect, it seems as 
though every man would have been cut down. As it was, 
we were wonderfully exem})t from casualties, losing only 
one man killed, and a few wounded. Colonel Leggett had 
three bullet holes made in liis clothes. Color.el AVhittlescv, 
seeing our danger, unsupported by artillery, and ten 
regiments could be seen preparing to charge upon us, 
immediately had a battery of six guns brought up. Let mo 
assure you the sight of those war dogs coming to our 
assistance, was truly refreshing. They were quickly })laccd 
in position, and opened upon the enemy with such destruc- 
tive efl'ect that they soon broke and retreated. They began 
now to retreat along the whole line, leaving the lield and 
the victory with us. 

"• From the far East and the distant West the cheering 
intelligence reaches us that our brothers in arms are not 
idle; but that, with hearts to dare and arms to strike, are 
pressing down from all sides upon the foe. This is very 
encouraging. It gives us confidence in ourselves, confi- 
dence in our Generals, and confidence in tlic favoj- of Prov- 
dence.'" 

After the battle the regiment encamped upon the extreme 
rigiit of the fleld of battle, and bivouaced several days 
without shelter, save such as the woods afforded. It rained 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 149 

almost night and day, which caused afterward mnch sick- 
ness in the regiment. Although the regiment had suffered 
but little on the field of battle, it was not spared much sick- 
ness and heavy fatality while in camp at Shiloh. We lost 
many of the best men in the regiment from disease. 



THE SIEGE OF CORmTH. 

TT.S EVACUATION — THE APPEARANCE OF THE TOWN — THE KEBEL3 

PURSUED REBEL A'ANDALISM EIGHT-DAY MEN A SERMON 

FOUND IN CORINTH. 

At Shiloli, where our army liad Ijecn eiu-ainped for weeks 
hefore l)eing attacked by General Joliiistou, our Generals 
were guilty ofun}>ardonal)le Jieglcct in having done nothing' 
tor the defense of the place and their camps, by estaljlishing 
a line of fortilications. After the battle, and the arrival of 
General llalleek, the army commenced their labors with 
the axe, the pick and the spade, and constructed and built 
line upon line of works from Shiloh to Corinth. Day and 
niglit the troops were engaged in digging. 

The Seventy-Eiglith Avas still retained in Lew, Wallace's 
Divit^ion, which was the extreme right of the aruiy. It was 
very important that the riglit tlank be well guarded, as 
liere. important highways led to Corinth and Furdy, which 
made a convenient and ready communication to cur army. 
In consequence many scouting parties had to be sent out 
daily to watch the movements ot the enemy and to guard 
the flank of the army. 'J'his imitosed heavy duty upon 
the Seventy-Eighth regiment. Colonel Leggett being 
known as a man of great energy, was generally selected 
for dilRcult and dangerous enter})rises. 

The siege was fairly inaugurated on the SOtli of Api-il, 
and ended the morning of the oOth of May. During this 



SEVEyTr-EiailTH REGIMENT Q. V. V. L 151 

tliiiG tks rcginieiit seldom slept two uig-lit.s in tke fiarrie 
<jAmp. During tlic uiglit they would build workic; the 
jicxt morning they wouJd move forward to a new [nosition 
:uid go througk tb.e sanie operation. Alniost ii con«tiHit 
<;amioiiadiug was kept up along the whole lino frooi right 
to left. Corinth at length Ixecamo almost cncompjLSSBd by 
our army, and but one avenue was left the rebels for escape, 
which was the Charleston Kailroad, au-d it would eeeni that 
IJeneral Ilalleek intended this to bo left open for thiit 
jinirpose, of which opportunity thej availed themselves 
the morning of the SOth of May. 

The two armies wore row about cqaal in numbers, and 
despite the ]joa,st tliat one rebel is equal to two V'aukcer, 
the Sojithern Oeuerak agaJu declined to fight us ivhcu 
Eiearly of <3(\ual etreogth and advantage. Although pro- 
tected by entreiicliments m commanding positions, atid 
capable of being made next to invulnerable, Corinth hits 
been added to the long list of strongholds which have iallen 
into our liands without much bloodshed eiace the oom- 
juencenient of the present year. Manassas, Yorktown, 
Xorfolk, Bowliisg Green, I^ashviHc, Columbus, Little Hoek 
and Corinth — eacl.i icapable of a lengthened defeiise, yet all 
captured with, but little resistance. Corinth was indeed a 
stronghold, and lis importance could not have been over- 
^^stiniatecL It is the key that unlocks the cotton States, 
iuid gives us commaud of almost the entire S3'stem of 
Southern railroads, and nothing but despair could have 
jjrompted its abandonment. While there was a hope for 
the Confederacy, piolicy would have compelled the insurgents 
to hold the towE. 

ON THE MARCH- 

About half-past six in the morning orders to march 
were received, and at seven the greater portion of the men 
were outside their works, cautiously feeling their way 
tlirough the dense under-brush which intervened between 
our fortilications and the defenses of Corinth, but after 



152 niSTORT OF THE 

advancing half a mile tliey came to an open space, and the 
enemy's works, abandoned and desolate, burst npon their 
astonished gaze; the sight was entirely nnexpected. The 
opening was made hy the rebels, who had felled the timber 
for about three hundred yards in front of tlieir entrencli- 
ments, for the doulile purpose of obstructing our progress, 
a,nd giving them a fair view of our colun\n when in rifle 
range. 

The view from the highest point of the rebel works, 
immediately in front of Davies' Division, was truly grand. 
The circle of vision was at least five miles in extent, 
stretching from the extreme left, and the magnilicent 
display of banners, the bristling of shining bayonets, and 
the steady step of handsomely attired soldiers, j^resented a 
pageant which has seldom been witnessed on this continent. 

Upon many of the regimental ensigns were printed 
"Wilson's Creek," " Fort Donelson," and " Shiloh," which 
mottoes were waved in the breeze. Those who passed 
through all these trying ordeals unscathed, or who received 
honorable wounds in either, in future can look back upoi^ 
a life devoted to their country's service, and feel that proud 
satisfoction which is denied to others not less patriotic, but 
less fortunate. In future pageants in honor of the natlon't? 
birthday, when the last relics of former struggles have 
become extinct, and when these shall be bowed down with 
age, they will be their country's honored guests, and receive 
that consideration due their noble deeds. 

COHrNTH, 

The troops from every direction marched toward a com- 
mon center — Corinth — and as they neared each other 
friends recognized friends whom they had not seen for 
weeks or months, though separated but a few miles ; greet- 
ings were exchanged. As regiments met for the first time 
since leaving the bloody fields of Donelson and Shiloh, 
cheer after cheer resounded through the forest, and were 
echoed and re-echoed by the hills, as if earth itself desired 
to prolong the sound. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH HEGTMENT 0. T, V. T. 150 

The town i.'^ Iniilt upon low Iniids and clay soil, so that in 
Wet weather the place may very properly Ijo denoininatcd a 
swamp. But tlic soil is as easily- affected l\v dronth as In' 
rains, and the result is that at the present time the clay is 
baked perfectly solid, and the ground iillcd with fissures. 
Just outside of the town are the ridges, which might appro- 
priately he named hills, and u])on wliich second, third and 
fourth lines of defenses could have l)cen erected. The 
highest lan<ls are in the direction of Farmington on the 
cast, and College IIIll on the south-west. 

Corinth is the only pleasant country village we liavo seen 
in this section of the country, I was informed that it con- 
tained formerly, 2,200 inhahitants, of all colors. The 
houses are Ijuilt after the Southern fashion, with front 
door for every room looking toward the street. This is an 
odd feature to one used to Yankee architecture, hut it is tlu; 
universal style of the v^outliern States. The apartments of 
most of the houses are large and airy, and surrounded with 
immense porticos, where the high toned cluvalry enjoy 
their siesta in the most improved Spanish, Southern manner, 
except that they imbibe before sleeping, a somewhat 
<lifferent beverage from that of the Castilians. Instead of 
the wines of Andalusia, they consume almost unheard of 
(juantities of Bourbon and rifled whisky. 

The yards of the rich are decorated with sliruhbcry, and 
what is fir more in accordance with good taste, forest trees 
are left standing, and neatly trimmed — a custom whieli has 
been too sadly neglected in the Xorth. There are several 
substantial brick and frame lousiness houses, all of wliicli 
liave been stripped and deserted. There was a tine, large 
Baltimore clothing store, l)ut neither keeper nor clothing 
could be found ; a druggist was all that determined to 
remain. 

I^ot enough of the Corinthians remained to welcome u^ 
or to give us any idea of the character of the mass of the 
citizens. A few poor persons, the druggist referred to, and 
the mayor's clerk, and two or three wealthy families, were 



lo-i HISTORY OF TUE 

ail that could be found. The poor were nearly starved, and 
were disposed to welcome any change, as it might liring 
relief, but could not add to their sutferings. Their condition 
in any event could not be much worsted. They walked 
i'uriously around, obscrxing the movements of the soldiers, 
astonished at the comparatively handsome uniform they 
wore, Jind gratilied that tlie fears they had felt were no t 
realized. The wealthy females looked from the windows 
of their mansions upon the Tnion troo[is, aliccting the 
greatest scorn and contemjit for the Yankees, who viewed 
lliem in return rather in a spirit of })ity than of revenge. 

Corinth is su]iphed with water from an artesian well, 
which has been lately completed, and is about 000 feet dee]». 
it will alford sufficient water for tlie army, and is of good 
ipiality ; but the distance to our lines will create considerable 
inconvenience. Artesian wells are usually huge l>ores, but 
it does not so ha])pen in this instance. The benelit dcri\'cd 
i'rom it is substantial. 

The rebel Generals determined to evacuate the place on 
the 27th, and therefore sent away. all their baggage, and 
everything not actually needed for the subsistence of the 
troops or for a battle. Tlie question of linal evacuation was 
left open as circumstances might dictate ; and in the mean- 
time the army and the troops were to be cajoled into the 
belief that Corinth was the last ditch — the spot where 
General Pillow intended to die. 

All the citizens of Corinth, and I believe of the rebel 
States, believed the place would be held at all hazards, and 
the chagrin and disappointment at its evacuation without u 
blow, were deep and bitter. I talked with sevei'al, who, up 
to that hour had never fidtered in their faith, but who now 
hjok upon their cause as ])ast the remotest chance of a 
resurrection, and are adapting themselves to their new and 
changed circumstances. They say tliat if the South could 
not hold and defend Corinth, they cannot hold their ground 
at any other point, and it is therefore useless to prole ug a 
war which is now desolating tvreh'e States. 



SEV'ENTY-EIGIITII REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 155 

Oti the 27th, General Beauregard went to Holly S})rings, 
givini^ out the impression that it was to recruit his heahli, 
l»ut the real intention was to select a camp for his army, 
r.enerals ]Mllow, Price and Hardee concurred with 
!)caurcgard to evacuate the place, hut General Bragg and 
X'^an Born opposed it, as a movement ahsolutely destructive 
to their cause. 

General Ilalleck was admired for his care, and fortiiying 
every rcsti)ig })hice ahout Corinth, hut we cannot commend 
his watchfuhiess in not ascertaining the fact that the rehels 
were retreating, when we were within half a mile of their 
lines for forty-eight hours. A reconnoisance in force, at 
several points, to the distance of twenty-five rods heyond 
our pickets, would have discovered the whole facts. Gen- 
eral Ilalleck's watchfulness will certainlv he reo'arded as u 
juilitary hlunder. 

REBEL VANDALISM, 

True to their natural sentiments, the rehels could not 
leave the town without destroying a large amount of 
jiroperty. The depot and three large vrarehouses, con- 
taining provisions which they were unahle to carry away 
were tired, and hefore the arrival of the Union army, were 
consumed. The dense cloud of smoke which was seen in 
the morning as the army a})proaclied, led to the supposition 
that the town had heen hurnod, hut on our arrival it was 
found that all private residences, and such buildings as 
contained no army stores, were left unharmed. 

The rebel forces amounted to 80,000 eftective troops, of 
all grades — volunteers for the war, conscripts, and eight 
day men. The latter are those who shouldered their 
muskets for an immediate battle; they are generally pressed 
in. At the battle of Sliiloh many of these were found 
<lead upon the field of battle, who had the previous day 
been in our camps, and who were regarded by us as good 
I'nion men. Some of them lived in the little town where 
our regiment was stationed ; nuxny of these were taken 
prisoner on their return home. The cavalry and infantry 



150 HISTORY OF THE 

pressed tlie rotreatinc: rebels, and gathered np several 
thousand stragglers, and ca[)tnred some of their camps. 
So closely were they pressed that our men found a breakfast 
already cooked, the rebels not having time to eat it, our 
men coming upon them so suddenly ; blankets, muskets? 
cartridge boxes, and other munitions of war were aban- 
doned by the rebels, and lay scattered in profusion along 
the roads. 

ANECDOTE OF THE FIOIIT OF THE 28Tir. 

"When our lines advanced on the 28th, a battery was 
planted on an eminence commanding a considerable portion 
of the country, but completely shrouded from view by a 
dense thicket. Scouts were sent out to discover the exact 
position of the rebels, and were but a short distance in 
advance, to give the signal as to direction to fire if any were 
discovered. One of the rebel commanders, unaware of our 
presence, called around him his men and commenced 
adih'essing them in something like the following strain : 

" Sons of the South : — Wo are here to defend our 
homes, our wives and children, against the horde of vandals 
who have come here to possess the first and violate the last. 
Here upon this sacred soil we have assem1)led to drive back 
the ]Srorthern invaders — to drive them back into Tennes- 
see. Will you follow? If we cannot hold this place, we 
can hold no place in tlie Southern Confederac}'. Shall wc 
drive the invaders back, and strike to death the men wlio 
would desecrate our homes ? Is there a man so base among 
those who hear me, as to retreat from the contemptible foe 
])efore us? I will never blanch before their fire, nor — "' 

At this interesting period the signal was given, and six 
shells fell in the vicinity of the gallant officer and his men, 
who suddenly forgot their fiery resolves and fled in confu> 
sion to their breastworks. 

powerful and thrilling sermon on THE CURSE OF COWARDICE. 

The following sermon was preached at Fort Donelson, 
and found by the writer at Corinth among the precioug 



SEYEXTY-EIOnTlI REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 157 

rloeuiiients laid up to comfort the soldier and strengthen 
his resolves in driving back the Yankee from their sacred 
soil. It is one of the finest efforts of the ablest and most 
incomprehensible of modern divines. Dr. Baldwin is a 
descendant ot the propliet Samnel on the one side and 
llabakuk on the other, and of course is a "good Qgg;'' 
or, as has been beautifnlh' said, " a whole team and a yaller 
dog under the wagon."' 

Of his earl V historv we can only say that his name had a 
significant origin. "When he ]ireached his first sermon an 
old la<ly ]"cniarkcd to one of the brethren as they went to 
iunek : " Well, that little cuss preached a screaming ser- 
mon."' Of Ins great l)ook — Armageddon — too nmcli 
cannot be said. It would do credit to a lunatic asylum. 
It is a work of wonderful weight, being the lieaviest thing 
of tlie kind extant. It is said, as an evidence of his syste- 
matic mode of doing things, that when writing the great 
chapter in Armageddon on the "Goat with Seven Horns," 
lie was in the habit of drinking seven horns a day himself, 
on the sagacious supposition that "like would produce 
like!" The following sermon is, however, his great efibrt. 
It was commenced on the memorable Sunday of the fall of 
Fort Donelson, and its delivery was unluckily cut short by 
the announcement of that calamitous event. 13ut we must 
uo longer delay the sermon. 

The services were opened on this occasion with a prayer 
by a Texan Hanger : 

"Oh, Lord! Thou knowes't that this thing of praying is 
altogether out of my line, and as hard for me to do as for 
Pigtail to keep sober, or Jeff I)avis be made pay his debts, 
or Floyd to kee[> from stealing. But, Thou knowest we are 
some on tangle-foot wliisky, good at horse-racing, and tip- 
to[) at poker, and can hold four aces about as often as ' John 
Morgan' or 'any other man.' Help ns this day, ibr we ar© 
in u peck of trouble, and it will be the last time I'll ever 
trouble vou. Amen." 



158 HISTORY OF THE 

THE CUnSE OF COWARDICE. 

Text — ^^ Curse yc, Meroz, cnrsc yc hitlcrhj. — Eeloved 
brethren and sisters, you are assenil)ie(l to-day to discharg'e 
the most important (hities of your Hves. Tlic ^'ankees in 
' chariots of fire ' are cavorting and eharging like tlie'licast 
with seven lieads and ten horns' spoken of by St. Jo]iii. 
(Brother McXairy, make tliat l)h)odhouiid of yonrs keep 
still, or I'll expel him from the church, even as Judas was 
cast out of the synagog-ue.) The uncircumcised sons of the 
Philistines arc riding over the holy soil of the South in 
chariots of lire, even as the chariots of Elijah and 
Amir.adal), and my soul waxcth 'wonderfully and fearfully 
ma<l.' Oh, hrethren, let us do as Jviug David, the sweet 
]»salmist of Israel, did, when h.e arose and went after his 
sling. (Stop, my brotiicr ; don't he in a hurry to leave: 
I didn't mean a gin-sling, hut the filing of the 'spirits of 
just men n\ade perfect,' which will send a rock ii.to the 
temples of Aljraham Lincoln.) Ih'ethren, let us see if we 
<'an"t perforate into the meaning of my text — ah I ' Curse 
ye Meroz.' My text suggests two 2>oints, the cowardice of i\ 
cuss, and the cuss of cowiirdice. 

"Firstly, there is always cowardice in a low, orniw cuss, 
and the cuss is always full of cowardice as our publishing 
liouse is of ]'>iety, which, you know, my bi'cthren, i"^ an 
exclusively religious concern, and [luMishes among other 
excellent books my great work on }»rophecy, called 
Armageddon. Price one dollar and fifty cents — ah ! 

"Secondly, the "uss of cowardice. Who, m}' l)rethren and 
sisters, is a cuss of cowardice ? A cuss of cowardice is one 
v.'lio bellows like a 'bull of Ihishan " in lime oi" safety, and 
then runs like a ' fatted calf ' in time of da!:^;-cr. There is 
]s]ium (j1. Harris, "who issued a jiroclamation. a few days ago, 
talking about 'defending the sanctity of our homes, and 
wives and daugliters, and dying in the last ditch.' Yes, lie 
cavorted mightily, and should, as he -smelt the l)attle afar 
ofi';' l)ut to-day he rcmaiueth like a disconsolate whang- 
doodle, in the dark mountains of ireii-idam, roaring f>r 



SEVEXTY-EKiTITII REGTMEXT 0. V. V, I. 15!> 

]ior first horn, and v>'ill not 1)0 romtortod, bocau?!0 tliey iire 
not/ Iiistefid of staying; to tis>:lit that son of Belial, Andy 
.Tolm^nn, lie i?^ ^(ackini:^ np his (hid- for a £;"rand sk'.'diKhlli-. 
]\ry In'otlircn, lie i.s a cnss, and a 'cuss of cowardice.' 

"Then tliere is (Jirieon I'illow, -who lias undertaken a 
contract for diu;(j,'ing that 'last ditch,' of which you have all 
lieard so much. I ani aft'aid the 'feathers will lly ' when- 
evof that case is opened, and that Pillow will give us the 
slip. The ' sword of tlie JiOrd; isn't the sword of Gidet^i 
I'illow, so T sliall not l)olster him up ;my longer. (lideon 
is M cuvs, my oi-eth'.-en, and a 'cuss of cowardice.' 

■■Ti'.cre IS ^Wasli I>arre)W, wlio has been handling niiliions 
of dollars and staying cosily at homo, wiiilo 'lewd fellou's 
of the- baser sort' do the ligliting. I believe tliis liarrow 
belongs to the herd of swine s[ioken of in the Testament, 
of whom the devil took }»osse:ision. AVhy don't lie bristle 
lii) to the Yankees? ])oes he want to 'save his bacon' 
more than to save the Somh','' If ho does he ought to be 
^\'ell smoked. lie, too, is a cuss, and a 'cuss of cowardice.' 

'• Theii there is the Vigilance Committee of Xashville. 
A'igilant about Vvdiat, I should lil-ce to knov/? As • vigilant 
as a Ciit to steal cream," I guess, as the apostle Fai staff says 
in his sermon to J'rince Hal. Why don't they sliouldcr 
their muskets and go out to Hglit the Yankees, instead of 
I'uiming oil' ;[)Oor mechanics v\-ho have no iVientls ? ]\Iy 
iVicnds, they are all cusses, and 'cusses of cowardice.' 

'•My brethren and sisters, I'll tell you v>'ho are not cnsse«» 
of cou-ardiee. Myself, the author of Armageddon, and 
Dr. ?dryeri'in, author of the Confederate Primer, and Dr. 
Summers, author of Confederate Almanac, and Prother 
JLouston, who is getting up a Confederate Pible. A\'e arj 
no': 'cusses of cowardit-e." Xo, sir-eel 

•' My brethren, just get the almanac and IodIc for tliat 
Confederate ' eclipse of the sun,' and then g;Qt down lirollier 
Mac's primer, and read that heaveiily little story about tiu' 
' SiiKirt Pixie Poy,' and tlieii buy a co])y of my Ai-ma- 
geddon, for one dollar ami fifly cents, and vou will fiL'-ht 



lOO HISTORY OF THE 

like — (enter messenger, wildly exclaiming, 'Fort Douelson 
is taken, and the Yankee gunboats are in sight I ') Oh ! 
Lord, my brethren, oh! Lord ! — let's skedaddle I " 

The discourse was here broken oft* short ; but the pious 
author assures ns that it will be pnblHied in full in his next 
edition of Armageddon, which he re(|uest.i us to say ho 
will still sell at one dollar and tiftv cents. 



JACIvSOX, TEXis^ESSEE, A'ND POmTS SOUTH. 



A few days after the evacuation of Corinth, we struck 
tents, desiring to make ourselves useful — started to Pnrdy, 
and remained with the frio'htened citizens over nig'ht. 
leaving- Company B with them. We started for Bethel 
Station, where we pitched our tents and expected to remain 
for some time. Vie were highly pleased with the place, on 
account of the excellent quality of the water, and the 
hospitality of the citizens, who made us many friendly 
visits, and immediately opened up a brisk trade with the 
boys, in butter, fruits, berries, milk, etc. 

We built two large bake ovens, and hired a baker to 
l)ake bread for the regiment ; determined no lons^er to. 
accept of Uncle Sam's bread, which I regard as the great 
curse of our arm v. I care not what sur2:eons and other* 
gay of the healthy nature of crackers; nothing short of 
livina revelation would convince me that they arc not 
llie cause of so much of sickness and death in the army. 
We can fully establish this fact Ijy examples both of indi- 
\)(luals and of regiments who have bakeries connected with 
tlu'ir Quartermaster's Department. But as it is not my 
design now to discuss tlie cracker business, su[ii:;e it to say, 
1 have not yet seen the soldier who does not loath them. 

A few days after our stop at Bethel, General Logan's 
Division, comprising sixteen Illinois regiments, came to 

li 



162 HISTORY OF THE 

dwell with us. The next morning after their arrival the 
Seventy-Eighth, with parts of the IlHnois Twenty-NintJi 
and Thirtieth, were ordered to proceed up the railroad 
and open it for transportation as far as -Jackson, Tennessee, 
a distance of forty miles ; while General Logan would 
take a Brigade, aceompained hy Colonel Marsh's Chivalry, 
in a diflt'erent direction, to intercept cotton burners and 
guerrillas, who were laying waste the country aliout 
Jackson. We started in the cars Saturday morning, heav- 
ing a detail of sixty men behind to guard the engineers in 
bringing the telegraph after us. We arrived at Jackson 
seven hundred strong, about three P. M. We took the 
inhabitants by complete surprise. They had just had a 
large meeting of the citizens, appointed vigilance comittees 
to test more thoroughly suspicious persons, and inspect the 
arms and distribute them to the citizens; also to burn the 
bridges below the city, to prevent our entrance to the place. 
We came upon them before they had accomplished their 
last purpose. They were amazed and confounded at our 
appearance upon their streets ; at our boldness in marching 
directly to the court house and taking possession of the 
yard. In a few minutes vre demanded tlie keys, and 
Lieutenant Ivoljerts, of Company E, bore the Hag of tlie 
Seventy-Eighth to the top and fr.stened it to the cupola. 
Li majesty it proudly unfurled it.; ttars and stripes to the 
wind. Like a stream of blazing iire it v/as seen by all th© 
inhabitants of the city, and for some distance by tlie citizens 
in the country. The ladies were seen runniiig with dis- 
heveled hair, to the northern ]:;',rt of tlic city: a comjtuny 
of cavahy encamped on the fairgrounds fled, leaving their 
supper cooked ; a coniitany of home guards in tlie city 
iii.sienea to doif their military clothes for tiiosc of tlhc 
citizens, and ofiicers of the secesh fled immediately to the 
countr3\ The people looked indignant and sullen. T!.<3 
colored people seemed to welcome us, and crov^•ded the 
ptreets and public scpiare. They siud they did not l)elieN-e 
we were Yankees, because they thought Yankees had horns 
and cloven feet. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V, Y. L If^ 

The boys stacked their arms around the court house, and 
soon were off huying corn bread, pies and cakes; and nianj 
of them commenced l)oldly with the citizens to debate 
Unionism, and had the impudence to ask how they Hked 
the stais and stripes. Some have told us since that our 
bokh^ess was all that saved us that night. They thought 
we surely had a large force at calling distance. 

The Knights of the Golden Circle had their meeting at 
three o'clock the next morning, and couriers were sent 
through fields and by-ways to the country (the main roads 
we had well picketed that niglit,) to drum up all the cavalry 
and forces to rout us and take us all |)risoncrs Sabbatli 
night. They had made the boast tliat to-morrow our 
enjoyment would be turned to sorrow. About four o'clock 
Sabbath evening Colonel }<Iarsh with las cavalry, and Gen- 
eral Logan with four regiments and three brass bands came 
marching into the city and saluted the tlag waving over the 
court house. The people almost wilted down in despair, and 
some were heard to remark, "They got us now ; no use to 
oppose. '' 

Unionism here was entirely suppressed. Oeeasionallj 
now we lind some to speak out, 5nd some go so far as to 
discuss the question of Unionism with each other. The 
Reign of Terror has ])een exercised here during the j)a8t 
year. The city is classed the fourth in the vState; w;i» 
the first to raise the secession flag in the State, and liaa 
since been the most active in the support of the Southern 
army and the Confederacy. In wealth, it is without a par- 
ahel; in respect to its population, all arc wealthy planters 
owning large tracts of land and many slaves. In respect to 
beauty, I have seen none to surpass it. The city is buried 
in a dense forest of shade trees, and the dwellings are large 
and costly, having large and ornamented yards in front. 

All the troops are now encamped outside the nuun city, 
except three companies, who arc encamped in the court 
house yard for])resent iturposes, and act as the police of thfe 
city. One of these companies is our own Company K, 



164 HISTORY OF THE 

fc^cventy-Eio-lith. "\\"e have soarelied all suspicious houses, 
and have captured over one thousand hogsheads of sugar 
and much iiour and corn laid awaj' for the rebel army. "We 
liave captured a large amount of small arms; also took 
])ossessiou of the armory and many Quartermaster stores. 
]']very day we are making accessions to our captured prop- 
erty. 

This is the first ]>lacc wo have been where scrip was 
current. The boys happened to have gathered considerable 
of it in various expeditions, saving it to take home with 
them. The citizens refused our paper money; would not 
touch it. The boys, therefore, have been doing good busi- 
]iess with their Confederate scri[»t, many of them boarding 
at the hotels, paying fifty cents a meal, getting a Confed- 
erate l>ill changed and receiving Ohio and Kentucky money 
in change. ISome ha\'e gojie into the business of buying it 
f.'oni tliC colored population for the gold and silver at a 
trifle, ai.d ]iass it off at the groceries at full value. One of 
Com}. any E, yesterday, started with live dollars, and came 
out in the evening with thirteen dollars current Ohio money. 
This is only one instance. They all have now more money 
than they lirought with them, after S[ ending freely. l>ut 
the matter is now changing; the people take the scrip with 
reluctauc , but tal. e the greenbacks with readiness. An 
order will be issued to-mojrow prohibiting the circulation 
of all Confederate money. The people do no not yet Icnow 
it. It will create quite a sei:sation, and ^^ il! come hard upon 
many for a few days. Gold and silver are ainong the tilings 
that are past ; none of it has been seen in the city for months, 
and is looked upon as an article of curiosity. 

In a few days the road will be opened to Cobiunbus, Ken- 
tucky, when communications with the Xorth will l)e more 
direct and immediate. The boys are in the highest enjoy- 
ment, and say the past vreek has paid them for all their 
hardships heretofore. 

CRAJyD JUXCTION. 

After three or foar vrceks rest and (piiet at Jackson, Ten- 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. Y. I. 165 

nessee, tlie regiment \Yas ordered to Grand Jnnetion, to liold 
and repair the railroad, so that communication could be 
opened up with ]Mem]ihis and the interior of Mississippi. 
The position ^vas an important one, being the junction of 
important railroads leading to the enemy's main lines of 
communication and assailal)le positions. The place containd 
a few scattered houses, one small church and a medium 
hotel.. The country around is not surpassed in A\'^estern 
Tennessee . it is well cultivated and the plantations ^vealthy 
and well stocked with the property of the peculiar institu- 
tion. At Grand Junction were machine shops of several 
roads, but these were destroyed when Beauregard evacuated 
Corinth. ]\Iany of the inhabitants, especially the more 
wealthy, had gone South in search of their riglits. Hero 
we found some Union men who had been subjects of perse- 
cution in consequence, and many who were so by professio]), 
but were found a fevv^ weeks afterwards among the enemy's 
cavahy and guerrillas. ^\V(} remained liere one week, wlien 
we were ordered to march to Holly Springs, Mississippi, about 
twenty-four miles farther south. With this order we could 
not comply, in conserpience of our transportation not having 
yet reached us from Jackson, Tennessee. A\^e wore then 
ordered to Lagrange to relieve General Ilurlbut, Avho, witii 
his Division was ordered to Holly Springs in our stead. AV'c 
remained at Lagrang^e one week, Colonel Leggett in com- 
mand of the post, and Lieutenant \Y. AV. McOarty, of Com- 
j>any E, Provost Alarshal. 

The town is one of considerable celebrity in the South, 
]joth for commercial importance and educational facilities. 
It has a population of nearly three thousand inhabitants, 
and before the rebellion, was one of the most business 
and beautiful towns in AVestern Tennessee. J lore is loeatrd 
the Presbyterian Synodical College. The building stands 
on elevated grounds, ami present an imposing a})pea ranee 
from every view in the surrounding country. It is now 
occupied as a hospital; the fate of nearly all educational 
institutions in the South. It was used as such by the rebeb 



l&y IIISTOKT OF THE 

and wlieii thoj evacuated Corinth and tliis conntry manj 
sick were left here for our care and attention. Tliis institu- 
tion, eminent in past history and long nursed bj the churches^ 
i^ sliaring- alike the fearful consequences of rebellion and 
iecession, which soou dries up all fountains of learning ; 
wliicli is but the type of what it would do, were they brought 
int/^ full realization, and the principle permitted to be intro- 
, duce<l iiito the political policy and economy of our national 
existence. 

Dr. Waddel, the President of the Institution, is the 
Secretary of the Southern General Assembly of the I'res- 
byterian Church. He is a preacher of more tlian ordinary 
ability, and who has attained, both I^orth and South, con- 
siderable eminence for literaiy and other logical ability and 
knowledge, but entered into secession with all the earnest- 
T)ess of the demagogue. He liad a large plantation and a 
gixat number of slaves which gave to his principle, and 
l)elieving in the divinity of the institution of negro slavery? 
led him to espouse tlie cause of secession and sacrifice all 
present facilities and blessings in the interest of the slave- 
liolders' Confederacy, and to put forth eveiy effort in its 
l)ehalf. His sermons were turned into political harangues, 
inciting the people to rebellion, and cidtivating a spirit of 
malignant hatred against the people of the Xorth. His 
prayer-meetings were turned into war-meetings, stirring up 
the people to give their husbands and sons to be sacrifices 
upon the demon's altar of rebellon. Through his influence 
all the young men left the college and volunteered. All the 
young men of the town ysore diiven from their homes by 
the pressure of public opinion to enter the ranks of the 
Soutliern army. 

When our forces took possession of Western Tennessee, 
lie lied with his familj- to Jackson, Mississippi; and was 
driven from tliis place of refuge farther East, when he 
entered the army as a Chaplain, and his family reduced from 
great opulence to destitution in search of their rights and 
the Confederacy. How true the declaration of the prophet. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTn REGIMENT 0. V. V. L 167 

" he feedeth on ashes ; a deceived heart hath turned him 
aside, that he caiiuot deliver his soul, nor say is there a lie 
in his riglit liand." Truly such men have left off preaehing 
Christ, and teach instead the connnandments of men. 

"\Vhen our troops took possession of the place, Doctor 
Waddell was so indignant he refused to occupy his pulpit. 
Lieutenant McCarty, Provost Marshal, informed him by 
order that the church must be opened, and he must either 
preach himself, or he would have his pulpit filled. The 
Doctor then consented to preach, and the soldiers of the 
Union army crowded his liouse to its utmost capacity, and 
the Doctor was compelled to preach an excellent gospel 
isermon. The same kind of spiritual food he had been 
administering to the people of the South v/ould not be very 
palatable to the Union soldier. 

Doctor Grey, who wasprofessor in the sollege, was a very 
diifcreut man — tall, straight and head as white as snow, 
wjiich contributed much to his reverent appearance. lie 
seemed one of the most heavenly-minded, devoted and 
gpiritual men I ever met. It was refreshing to the Christian 
lieart to hear liim talk and preach. His mind seemed so 
imbued witli heavenly things that he talked little about 
either the Union or the Confederacy. He had no slaves, 
consequently had little interest at stake. He had an only 
son, who was a young man of very high attainments and 
promised great usefulness, but very much to the pain and 
grief of the father he was induced to leave his home and 
break away from his parent, in whom his comfort and joy 
were centered, to enter the rebel army, when he was taken 
prisoner l:)y our forces and sent jSTorth ; his health was much 
impaired, so that he died in hospital. The sorrow-stricken 
father could scarcely bear up under the terrible shock and 
affliction. 

Our sta}' at Lagrange was of short duration, but wa» 
attended with most healthful effect for the Union cause. 
Colonel Leggett had endeared himself to many of the 
people by his kind and gentlemanly trreatment of the 



168 HISTORY OP THE 

Citizens. Business began to grow active, and Northern 
sutlers soon filled the place with a large stock of goods. 

Here we saw for the first time the cruel treatment spoken 
of by Abolition papers in the J^orth, which we supposed 
were much exaggerated, but we now see it so fullj 
realized that we conclude the one-half has never been told. 
It makes humanity startle, and man ashamed to claim 
kindred with the white race. I presume slavery is no 
worse here than elsewhere, the treatment of the slave no 
less merciful and more severe than in other places, but wo 
happened to be so situated that we could see it in all its 
internal w^orkings. I will not stir the heart of the reader 
by a recital of the dark and sickening treatment that fell 
under our observation. 

"When General Ilurlbut had completed his mission to 
Holly Springs, he returned with his Division to Lagrange ; 
we were ordered again to Grand Junction, where we 
remained between three and four weeks. In the meantime 
General Ilurlbut marched his Division to Memphis. Our 
Brigade, composed oi the Seventy-Eighth, Twentieth and 
Sixty-Eighth Ohio, remained alone on this outpost, several 
miles in front of our main lines. The enemy was all 
around us, but still we protected our communications, and 
had from forty to fifty wagons out daily gathering forage 
and cotton; the cars were busy night and day carrying 
away forage, cotton and Government stores. Our wagon 
trains, scouting and forage parties were out daily, and a 
lively trade was carried on with the people for miles 
around. The rebel army and guerillas began to thicken 
around us ; General Leggett, in command of the Brigade* 
exercised every precaution and energy to strengthen his 
position and guard against an attack. lie asked for one 
more battery, and Brigade, but not being granted, was 
ordered by General Grant to evacuate the post and march 
to Bolivar. General Leggett remonstrated, and urged the 
propriety of reinforcements, and holding the position. The 
rebels were still gathering and concentrating nearer in such 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0, V. V. I. 169 

numbers as to make sure tlic capture of the Tirigado, but 
the General, auticipathig thch' designs, and ascertaining 
their position and numbers, gave the order to remove to 
Ijohvar, Tennessee, twenty-two miles north of Grand 
Junction. Scarcely had onr rear left the place till the rebel 
cavahy had possession of it, and captured a private of 
Company I, who having been on picket, stopped to drink a 
cup of coiFee before he would march. Many citizens who 
liad professed loj'alt}" and great attachment to the national 
flag, and aversion to the re1)el cause, were loud in their 
exclamations to "shoot the damned Yankees.'' About one 
hundred bales of cotton were left at the depot, which the 
rebel cavalry, like wolves, cut to pieces and applied the 
torch. They exulted over its burning as much as they would 
at the capture of the Brigade. After being posted at 
Bolivar, where they were encamped, sixteen regiments of 
Illinois infantry and several batteries of artillery. General 
Leggett with his Brigade, resumed his scouting and making 
reconnoisances through the country, teasing and tormenting- 
the enemy. Wherever an encampment vras heard of for 
miles around, the General was sure to be upon them, and in 
no case did they stand and make a fight. So much did 
General Leggett trouble them that Generals Jackson and 
A'^an Born oflered a lieavy reward for the person of Gciieral 
Legget and an}- of his otiicers. 

jSTothing of a startling character occurred till the morn- 
ing of August 30th. The time was spent principally in 
foraging, of which the country furnished a great abundance. 
Peaches, corn and sweet potatoes were brought in in great 
quantities, which contributed greatly to the health ( f the 
troops. There was but little sickness and but few death p, 
during the months the troops remained at this place waiting 
the pleasure of the Government to make a Ixn-w^ard move- 
ment. 

The Division captured while here nearly one thousand 
mules and horses from rebels in the vicinity. The town is 
a county seat and beautiful in location and appearance, 



170 HISTOEY OF THE 

containing a conrt-liouso, four clairclics, and some fine 
ivsidences. The "vvealtbiest citizen of the place is Major 
Mc^eal, who took the oath of allegiance and obtained a 
safe-guard for liis property, v.diich was the case of nearly 
all the citizens of the place. Major McXeal, in a few days 
after the attack of the rebels upon Bolivar, on the 30th of 
August, was sent j^s'ortli a prisoner. On the 28th he 
(.)l)taincd a permit to pass our pickets and go into the 
country to look after the interest of his plantations and 
shives, of which he had over three hundred, and over one 
thousand acres of land. In the fight on the 29th he was 
seen by those of our troops who had been taken prisoners 
c<iuipped with sword and carbine, among the rebel cavalry, 
lighting against the Government to which he had sworn 
allegiance, and against the troops who were protecting his 
liome. So certain was he that the rebels would gain posses- 
Tmn of the place, that he had ordered his wife to have 
dinner ready for the officers of the rebel army. Pic is a 
good example of how much confidence can be placed in a 
wealthy rebel's loj^alty and oath to the Government. After 
lliis Ins property was no longer respected. The timber and 
fencing, which previous to tliis had not been disturbed, were 
now all destroyed, l)eing used for fire-wood by our troops. 

The Methodist and Episcopal clergymen were also sent 
Kortii as prisoners ; they refused to take the oath of allegi- 
ance. It was thought tliat a sojourn in the ]N"orth, which 
they had preached against with so much malignancy, would 
be good for them. One of our prisons would be a suitable 
]ilaco to correct their insanity, which had turned all 
their ideas of theology into rebellion. It is hoped they 
will return wiser and better men, and obtain some new 
stock ideas for sermons. The pastor of the Presbyterian 
Church took the oath of allegiance, and continued loyal to 
the end. lie was therefore undisturbed in his administra- 
lions, and the soldiers gave him a well filled sanctuary 
every Sabbath. 



sevexty-eghth regimext o. v. v. i. 171 

On tlis inoniiiijj: of the SOtli tlic peace and quiet of onr 
c-aiu})s were disturbed by the appearance of the enemy, wlio 
luid been concentrating at Grand Junction preparatory to 
an attack upon tlie troops at Bolivar. The rebel force was 
commanded hy (ilcnerals Price, A^an Dorn and Armstrong- 
Some colored men, ulio liave in all cases proved loyal, and 
iriends to tlie Union army, came into camp, informing us 
tl'.at tliG rebels were in force and witliiu five miles of 
JJoiivar. General Leggett, in order to ascertain the trutli of 
the matter, took the mule cavalry, which he had selected 
from the Seventy-Eighth and Twentieth Ohio, lifty la 
nnmbor, and had used them for scouting -purposes ; Jie also 
took companies E and C, of the Seventy-Eighth, and II and 
(i, of the Twentieth Ohio, and started upon a reconnoisance. 
]fc liad gone but a short distance beyond our picket lines 
tih he met the enemy's advance. The mounted infantiy' 
d"smounted and opened the fight ; the rebels retreated 
s'lovvdv to their main force, our men viirorouslv i'ollowing. 
Some of the Twentieth Ohio were killed, and several 
wounded of the Seventy-Eighth, Stophcr, of Company II, 
severely. The two companies of the Seventy -Eighth 
deployed as skirmishers on the right of the road, the 
Twentieth on the left, and two companies of cavalry witii 
tlie mounted infantry upon the road, but the mule cavalry, 
ov mounted infantry, vrere afterwards sent to guard the 
ilanks, and picket the road leading into the main thorough- 
IVire to Boiivar. Here some of them were pursued by a 
large body of the enemy's cavalry, and came nearly being 
captured. 

A messenger was dispatched to Bolivar for reinforce- 
ments; the Seventy-Eighth and Twentieth Oliio left with 
all possible dispatch, and hurried on the double-quick, but 
(lid not reach oar advance in proper time for etfective work. 
When the rebel skirmishers fell back to the main force, we 
had nothing but a thin skirmish line to oppose about four 
thousand men ; they soon repulsed our cavalry, and a heavj 
column charged upon E and C, of the Seventy-Eighth, but 



172 HISTOKY OF THE 

tlie heavy voUies from the Enficlds checked the advance, 
and twenty were unhorsed tlie first volley. A heavy fence 
intervened, and in their attcni})t to cross it repeatedly, from 
eight to twenty vollies v.'erc poured into tliem, v.'hich 
caused them to ahandon the effort and retreat, hut they 
moved ronnd upon the flank of the left, and charged upon 
the two companies of the Twentieth Ohio, wiio ^^'ero 
posted in an open field, and surrounded them, taking 
nearly all prisoners. The two companies of the Seventy- 
Eighth Ohio were nearly surrounded, but l)y the dexterity 
of Colonel "Wiles, then Captain of Company C, Avere saved 
l)y wading a swamp and passing through corniields, piloted 
])y one of the faithful colored men who was r.c<[uainted 
Avith all the ravines and places of retreat between that and 
Bolivar. 

Toward evening companies E ai:d C, supposed ])y all to 
be taken prisoners, returned to camp and were i'ccelved 
\vith many cheers ; only one was missing, and he returned 
next morning. All that night he lay concealed, the reljcls 
passing near and around him frequently; ho could hear 
their conversation, being not more tliaii one rod distant 
from them; next morning the rebels had retreated, and 
nothing more was heard of them. 

The following is the official report, which give the partic- 
ulars of the affair in detail: 

OFFICIAL EEPORT OF COLONEL, M. D. LEGGETT OF THE EXGAGE- 
MEXT NEAR BOLIVAR, AUGUST SOtII, 1802. 

Headquarters First Ekk^ade, 1 
EoLiVAR, Tenx., September 1, 1802. / 

CoLOXEL M. M. Crocker, Commanchng Post : 

I have the honor to report that about 7 o'clock, A. M., of 
August 30th, I received from you orders to take a portion 
of my command, one section of the Ninth Indiana Batter}', 
and two companies of the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, and 
drive back a. force of rebel cavalry, reported to be about 
four hundred strong, upon the Grand Junction lioad and 
ueai^ our lines. 



SEVEXTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 173 

Colonel Force, of the T\ventietli Ohio, liavin^i:^ received 
information that a small rel)cl force was menacing our 
pickets, verj' properly took the responsibility in my absence 
of sending out two companies, under Major Fry of his 
command, to guard the lines and feel of the enemy. On 
arriving at my headcpnirters I immediately sent fort3'-five 
of m\' mounted infantry to support the two companies sent 
oat by Colonel Force, and followed as rapidly as possible 
witli the bahmce of the Twentieth Ohio, and three compa- 
nies of the Seventy-Eighth Ohio, leaving orders for the 
remainder of the Seventy-Eighth Ohio to be ready to march 
at a moment's notice. The cavalrj' and artillery had orders 
to meet mi at the picket post on the Grand Junctioii road, 
]>ut on arriving at that point I found that neither had got 
there. I left the infantry at that point under command of 
l\)lonel Force, to escort the artillery, when it should arrive. 
With my staff I pressed rapidly on to the front, to prevent 
if possiljle an engagement until my main force could 
come up. ' 

A7hen I reached the advance I found the two companies 
of the Twentieth Ohio and the mounted infantry deployed 
in a piece of Avoodhunl on the Van Buren road, about live 
iind a-half nules from Bolivar, and briskly skirmishing 
with the enemy. I immediately discovered that we had 
l>ecn deceived as to the numl)er of the rebels, and sent l)ack 
for the balance of my command to come forward as rapidly 
as })0ssible. Shortly afterward the two companies of the 
J:]leventh JlJinois Cavalry, under Major S. D. Peterbaugh, 
numbering in ail forty men, came up. 

The natui-e of the ground being sueh that cavalry could 
not be used, some twelve or fourteen of tliose who had 
carbines, dismounted and formed with the infantry. After 
driving the enemy steadily but slowly for three-fourths of a 
mile, 1 gaine<l a position where I had a distinct view of the 
foe, and found that I was contending with a force of over 
six thousand, instead of three or four hundred. I then 
1.0. died you of the iact, and asked for reiuforccmcuts, 



174 HISTORY OF TUB 

wbicli were promptly supplied — but the distance from 
camp being over six miles, it necessarily took several hours 
to get infantry reinforcements upon the ground. At this 
time I would have withdrawn my little force from the con- 
tast, having less than one man to twenty of the enemy, but 
the nature of the ground over Avliicli I would have l)een 
obliged to retreat was such that my force must have been 
annihilated, had I attempted to escape from such oxqv- 
whelming num])ers. I heel not men cnowjh to 7rircat, and 
consequently had no choice left but to light until suppoit 
<'«uld reach me. After we had been engaged about t^vo 
hours, six companies of tlie Twentieth Oliio, under Colonel 
Eorce, came up, also two pieces of artillery under Lieuten- 
ant W. Ilijrht, of the Xintli Indiana 13atterv. Two of theno 
companies were immediately deployed to relieve the cavaliy 
and mounted infantry, that they might l)e held in ri'adine^« 
to meet any Hank movement of the enemy. There being 
no adequate support for the artillery, I dared not bring it 
into action, but sent it about a mile to the rear, to take ii 
position at the junction of the Van Ibiren and Middlebnrg- 
road, and await reinforcements. About no^n I discoivered 
that the enemy were making a determined effort to llanii us 
upon the right, and get to our rear upon the 3*liddleburg 
road. Leaving Colonel Force in command on the Van 
Uuren road, I took the two companies of tlie Eleventh 
Illinois Cavalry and my mounted infantry and passed over 
the Middloburg road, where v/e found the enemy advaacing 
in large numbers. The infantry immediately dismounti^tl 
and engaged the enemy with great vigor and determination, 
ajid after a desperate struggle of over an hour, drove them 
back. Just at the close of the struggle, Captain Chandler, 
of -the Seventy-Eighth Ohio, came upon the ground with 
the remaining two companies of the Twentieth Ohio, and 
two companies of the Seventy -Eiglith Ohio. These four 
companies were at once deployed upon the right and 
left of the l^.Iiddlcburg road, and engaged the enemy's 
skirmishers. 



SEVITNTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. L 175 

The firing having ceased on tlie Van Biir«n road, I scufc 
orders for Colonel Force to leave a sufficient guard to pro- 
tect our left from a surprise, and bring the Ijalance of his 
command to the }*liddleburg road, Avhere it was evident 
tJiat the enemy were organizing for the purpose of making 
a determined eflbrt to break our lines, to reach our roar. 

The infantry reinforcements had not arrived. The 
balance of the Seventy-Eighth Ohio was reported close liy, 
but not near enough to support the artillorj ; hence it couLl 
not be used. At thi.^ moment Colonel Harvey Hogg, of th-e 
Sccontl Ilhnois Cavalry, came up with orders from you t-o 
report to me upon the Held, with four companies of his com- 
mand. I immediately assigned him a po.sition on the riglib 
of the road; but discovering that the enemy would probablv 
make a cavalry charge upon us before Colonel Force could 
reach me from the Van Buren road, I asked Colonel Hogn- 
if he could hoi 1 a position on the left of the road, and a 
little to the front of where he then was, against a charg >. 
from the rebel cavalry. He promptly said ho could, aiul 
besought me to give him the position., which ^^■^as done. 

He had not completed his change of place before the 
enemy charged down the line of the road in vast nundjor;*, 
but meeting the deadly fire of the four infantry companies 
under command of Captain Chandler, they were compulkMl 
to retreat, leaving many of their horses and men strewn 
upon the ground. They twice repeated their attempt t« 
get possession of the road, and were both times repulsed by 
the companies under Captain Chandler. They then thre\r 
the fences and entered the field upon our left, and opened 
fire upon Colonel Hogg's cavalry and the two com|)anic'3 
of the Twentieth Oliio, attached to Captain Chandli-r's 
command. The infantry and cavalry returned tbe "tiro 
l^riskly, and with terrible eifect. I then discovered that a 
full regiment of cavalry was forming in the rear of tiios* 
firing upon us, evidently vrith the determination of 
charging ujion our cavalry, and that portion of tli* 
infantry on the left of the road. I said to Colonel Hogg, if 



176 HISTORY OF THE 

heluid any doubt about holding liis position, be bad better 
fall back and not receive their charge. He promptly rej^lied : 
'• Colonel Leggett, for God's sake don't order me back ! " 
I replied : " Meet them with a charge, Colonel, and may 
Heaven bless you."' He immcdiatel}'^ ordered his men to 
<lraw their sabres, and after giving the order " forward," he 
exclaimed: ''Give them cold .steel, boys!" and darting 
alicad of his men, he fell pierced with nine balls. The next 
instant the tAvo m.addened lines came together with a clash 
of arms sublimely terrible. The enemy wavered and gave 
])artially away, bn.t Colonel Hogg having fallen in full view 
(II his men, and no other officer for the moment assuming 
command, our cavalry became partially disorganized and 
fell liack a sb(»rt distance, when Captain jSI. II. jMusser, of 
(Jompanv F, Second Illinois Cavalry, took command and 
soon put them in sha[ie for fighting again, 

' The struggle Ijetvrccn the rebel cavalry and Companies 
<l and Iv, of tlie Tvrentielh Ohio Infantry, who were 
deployed on the left of the Second Illinois Cavalry, was, 
if })OSr<ible, still more determined and angry. 

Oar men engaged in a hand-to-hand conflict with the 
enemy, and in lighting fifty times their own number, they 
dis])layed a determined, persistent courage seldom exhibiteel 
upon the l)attle-fleld. 

Seven con.ipanies of the Seventy-Eighth Ohio, under 
]Major I). V. Carnalian, and Colonel Force's command from 
the Van Buren road, coming up at this time, they formed 
in line to support the artillery. I ordered a slow retreat 
of the advanced line and brought the enemy within range, 
when Lieutenant Hight. of the Ninth Indiana Battery, 
opened upon them with shot and shell, and caused them to 
break ;md disperse in great disorder. 

Thus ended a contest of seven and a-half hours, in which 
less than nine hundred of our bravo soldiers met, and drove 
from t!)e field, over six thousand well officered and well 
ai'uied rebels. 



SEYEXTY-ElGIITn REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 177 

To mako mention of all who distinguislied tlicmselves for 
courage and gallantry on the l)attle-tield, would require tho 
nauiiug of every ofiieer and man engaged. Every one 
did his full duty^ more tlian cordd ])e reas^onahly asked. 
Xot a man faced to the rear until ho was ordered or carried 
])ack. Several fought after they were wounded, until tha 
lo.ss of blood rendered thern unulde to stand. 

It would be unjust, however, not to mention Colonel M. 
F. Force, of the Twentieth Ohio, Vvdiose coolness and cour- 
age inspired all who saw him. j\[ajor Fry, of the Twen- 
tieth Ohio, who comnmnded the advance when the attack 
was first made in the morning, and was in the thickest of 
the light all day. Lieutenant Ayres, of the Twentieth 
Ohio, and Lieutenant ]\runson, of the Seventy-Eighth Ohio, 
who together commanded the mounted isrfantrj', and witii- 
out vrhose elibrts we must have lost the day. Lieutenant 
Hills, Twentieth Ohio, displayed ;[(reat energjv" and bravery 
in si\atehing our dead and v»'ounde<l from the very hands 
of the enemy. Captain Ivaga and Lieutenant Melick, of 
the Tvreutieth Oliio^ for the adroit management of their 
( jmininies and their indomitable courage. Captain 
Chandler, of the Seventy-Eighth Ohio, wliose coolness 
and lu-avery in maneuvering tlie foui' companies under 
his coinmand wei'e observaldc by all who saw him. 
Captain (I. F. AViU-s, Lieutenant ^Y. X\\ McCarty, and 
Second Lient^Miards Roberts and Scales, all of the Seventy- 
Eightli Ohio, arc deserving of the highest praise for their 
persouiil valor, and for their skill in extricating their i-ompa- 
nies whi^'U entirely surrounded by the enemy. Major S. D. 
I'eterbaugli and Captain Otto Funke, of the Eleventh 
Illinois Cavalry, were in the fight nearly all of the time, 
and exliibited great counige ami gallantry. The Second 
lUinois Cavalry were on the iield so short a time, I can 
only particularize their commander, the lamented Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Hogg. A braver, truer man, never lifted 
his arm in defense of his country. He was brave to a fault, 

12 



178 HISTORY OF THE 

and fell wliile leading one of tlic most gallant cavalry 
charges of the present war. 

It is proper that I shonld make special mention of Adjn- 
tant E. jST. Owen, Twentieth Ohio, and Adjutant 11. S. 
Abbott, of the Seventy-Eighth Ohio, who acted as my 
Aids-de-Camp during the day, and regardless of personal 
danger, frequently went through showers of bullets in 
executing their orders. 

I may also say that the mounted infantry, or " mule 
cavalry," j^roved an entire success. They prevented the 
enemy from flanking us at least twice during the battle. 
They move with the celerity of cavalry, yet tight as infantr}'. 

Our loss was five killed, eighteen wounded, and sixty- 
four missing. The enemy's loss was far greater, Init as 
they were seen to pick up and carry to the rear their killed 
and wounded as fast as they fell, their loss is not known to 
us. It is reported over two hundred. 

I enclose the leports of officers commanding regiments 
and detachments in the battle. 

I am. Colonel, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

M. D. Leggett, 
Colonel Seventy-Eighth 0. Y. L, commanding 1st Brigade. 

Previous to this time General Armstrong, with a cavalry 
force, had taken possession of the railroad between Bolivar 
and Jackson, and tore up much of the track, which cut 
ns off from communication with the Xorth. Bobcrt 
Hanson, our mail carrier and postmaster, traveled on foot 
to Jackson, a distance of thirty miles, with the mail and 
messages to headquarters. lie was compelled to travel 
through swamps, and conceal himself in corn fields, to 
escape and 'to avoid the enemy. He traveled the whole 
distance in the night, and returned with orders and mail 
the next day. The enemy was driven away severely pun- 
ished, and the railroad was in a few days repaired. 

General Price began to turn his attention toward Corinth, 
after his failure to make a successful attack upon Bolivai-. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. ' 179 

Our Division, uiider Gonoral Ross, was ordered to report 
at Corinth, to reintbrec the garrison at that pUice. General 
I'rice had concentrated his army at luka, twentj-cight 
miles cast of Corinth. We arrived at Corinth at mid- 
night, and next morning encamped about three miles east 
of the town. We pitched tents and worked hard all day 
to put camp in order, and to await General Price's arrival. 
By sun-down we had got all things in good order, and all felt 
happy in the prospect of a comfortahle night's rest and 
sleep, which the men much needed, having enjoyed neither 
for three nights; but in the midst of our camp amusements 
and heightened enjoyments, an order was received 
requiring us to report at the railroad in one hour, and 
embark upon the curs and proceed to Burns ville, and hold 
the place at all hazards until reinforcements would arrive. 
The train that evening, near that place, had been captured 
and burned by the enemy. We were soon off, and arrived 
at the place, where wo rested till morning, sleeping sweetly 
u[iou the earth without shelter, under a heavy, continuous 
rain, which abated little till the evening of the next day. 

That day we moved forward to the next station, wliere 
our army was concentrating to meet General Price, or 
attack him and l)ring him to a fight. General l^osecrans 
with his Division in tlie meantime had gone round upon 
the right flank to cut off Price's retreat, and make an 
attack upon his rear, while we would attack him in front. 
The day was very disagreeal)le, so that little could 1>e done 
l)y way of a forward movement. Colonel Force, with the 
Twentieth Ohio, made a reconnoisance and drove the 
pickets of the enemy within three miles of luka. 

That night the Sevcnty-Eiglith Ohio were ordered out on 
}»icket, which made the liftli night that the regiment had 
licen on duty, and enjoying but little sleep and rest. The 
next morning was clear and pleasant. The rain had sub- 
sided, and all things were put in readiness for an imme- 
diate movement upon the encni}'. 



180 niSTOKT OF THE 

The Erigade commanded l)y General Leggett moved in 
the advance. "We advanced hut two miles till we enconn- 
tered the enemy's pickets and out-posts, eig]it miles this 
side of luka. Ahout live o'clock in the evening wc 
advanced to within a sliort distance of the tovrn, capturing 
their inner posts and a small encampment. Here an exten- 
sive swamp intervened, through wdiich there was hut one. 
road that troops could pass. This was strongly protected 
hy infantry and artillery, and to attempt crossing that 
night, and hring on a general engagement, was im})racti- 
cahle. Defenses were thrown up, and our men rested on 
their arms during the night, waiting the arrival of tlie 
remainder of the troops and artillery, which kept pouring 
in nearly all night. 

]Srext morning, after a cup of coffee and a fevv^ wormy 
crackers, the troops, under command of General Ord, our 
Brigade in front, advanced. Our skirmishers entered tlic 
swamp and steadily moved across, l)ut encountered no 
enemy. They had left a few" hours hefore day. 

The troops crossed and pushed on hy a cpiick march to 
the town, Init to our astonishment the wary Price had 
escaped with his whole army, ha\"ing cu.t through General 
liosecrans' Division tlie evening previous. In this etibrt 
very severe lighting occurred, l-iosecrans' force sutiered 
very severely, heing overpov»'cred hy five times his number ; 
but gallantly did they sustain themselves against the attack 
of the rebels, upon whom they inlilcted great loss. The 
wounded were heing brought in to luka Avhen we reached 
the place. 

Here we rested till noon in tlie deserted camps of the 
eneni}'. The situation of the town is beautiful, and the 
place was before the war one of wealth and comfort. Here 
the wealthy resorted during months of vacation for pleasure. 
It is celebrated for its tin-e springs of water, of vrhich there 
were several varieties, cool and pleasant, warm and sulpher- 
ous. The town contained many large and beautiful rcpi- 
dcnccs, but now presenting the evidences of the sad deso- 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 181 

latioDs of war. The homes of wealth and comfort, where 
the youth sported in princely grandeur, are deserted and 
shattered under the tramp of contending armies. 

At noon an order come by telegraph for the Division 
from Bolivar to return that night to Corinth. It was now 
about 3 P. M., and a march of nearly thirty miles was not 
very comforting to troops who had been on duty night and 
day for nearly two weeks. The rumor was current that 
(general Breckinridge was moving upon Corinth with a 
heavy force, if possible to capture it before the troops would 
i-eturn from luka. AVe immediately about-faced, and 
inarched twelve miles that evening. We rested till day- 
light, Avhen the regiment started for Corinth, marching 
al)0ut eighteen miles in less than five hours. We encamped 
in the same place we left a few evenings before, tired and 
nearly exhausted for want of rest and sleep. The men 
\s'cnt to the stream and washed, and put themselves in order 
to enjoy a few days rest; this being promised them by 
(Jeneral Grant, provided the enemy were willing. The idea 
of a week's rest was inspiring to us under such circum- 
stances, but such comfort was short-lived. Just as we had 
finished dinner an order came for General Leggett's Brigade 
to report at the depot without delay, and go by cars to 
Bolivar, Tcnn., leaving transportation to follow. Bolivar 
was then nearly surrounded by the enemy, and fighting had 
already commenced, lu a short time we were on the way, 
and arrived at Bolivisr about midnight, and found all quiet. 
The enemy in force were within five miles of the place, 
intending to make a vigorous attack in the morning, but 
the news of reinforcements reached them, and therefore 
they left for parts unknown. 

The next day our camp equipage arrived, and we pitched 
tents in a beautiful grove, and enjoyed the rest that Gen- 
eral Grant promised us. After the battle of the 30th of 
August, General llurlbut's Division was ordered from 
Memphis to Bolivar, which increased our force at this 
place, and relieved us of much duty. The regiment spent 



182 HISTORY OF TUE 

much of its time in drill, in Avliicli it iDecame very 
thorongb, nnder Colonel Wiles, ■who soon became noteil 
for one of the best drilled officers in the service. I feel 
assured, from extensive observation, he could not be sur- 
passed. 

The people in this community are now beginning to feel 
the etfects of war. Many are becoming impoverished, and 
experience destitution in all the necessary demands of 
physical life; consequently trains go daily loaded with 
refugees Korth. The depot is croAvded with men, women 
and children, who have fled from the tyranny of pro- 
scription, and the uncomforta1)le prospect of starvation. 
The poor and the non-slaveholdiug go Xortb, the oligarchy 
Soutb. Society is broken up, the men having entered the 
rebel army, and the women crowd together, consolidating 
homes, to unitedly struggle with destitution and hopeless 
prospects. Slavery, the great pillar of Southern society 
and all enterprise, is beginning to tremble, and with it 
must fall the whole fabric of social, spiritual and political 
economy. It decides the status of human society; it 
supports the Southern Church, which ceases here to be 
universal, but local and peculiar to itself; its religion 
extends not beyond the peculiar institution. The negro 
with his cotton, is king, and Lolds absolute control of 
Southern destiny. This forms the great educational force 
of the people, who are as devoted to it as the Hindoo to 
Vishnu. Slavery is connected with all their thoughts and 
identified with all their interests. The rebellion is one of 
its most direct results, and to suppress the rebellion without 
interfering with slavery, is an absurdity which would be 
only taking the eifect and leaving the cause. It would be 
as possible to obliterate every feeling of independence and 
freedom from the people of the ITorth, as to make a loyal 
people in the South, leaving the institution of slavery 
undisturbed. You cannot render nugatory its effects by 
any teachings, compromises, or by any principles of mental 



SEVEXTY-EIGHTH REGBIENT 0. V. V. I. 183 

science. As AVell make a mocking-bird out of a moccasin 
snake, or make the substance of opposite affinities unite. 

From this arises the wisdom of the Emancipation Proc- 
lamation, which was the key that turned all our etibrts 
into success, and opened the doors of victory and complete 
success to our arms. 



THE MOVEMENT lOsTO MlSSISSim 

EY GENERAL GRANT, "WITH SEVE?;TY-riVE TIIOI'SAND MEN — GEN- 
ERAL PRICE EVACUATES ALL IILS STRONG POSITIONS AND 
IlETREATS to" JACKSON, MlSSIi^SIPPI — -GENERAL GRANT's COM- 
MUNICATIONS CUT AT HOLLY SPRIXC-S, AND HIS SUPPLIES 

DESTROYED llE RETREATS WITU IIJ,S ARr^T TO MEMPHIS. 

TENNESSEE. 

General Logan takes corainand of the Third Divl-ion, 
wlio remains in command till after tlie siege of Yieksbnrg, 
wlicn lie was appointed to tlie command of the Fifteenth 
Arni}^ Corps, and before the clone of the war assumed 
command of the Army of Tennessofc'. 

Eeforo the war he was a member of Congress fi'om 
Southern Illinois, and one of the most influential leaders 
of the Democratic part}' in tliat part of the State. V}»orr. 
the adjournment of Coiigress in 1861, Hon. John A. Logaii; 
returned home and immediately volunteered in the 
service of his country. After he had done all tliat 
human ])0wer could honorably do by way of com])romising 
and settling the difhcultics, in order to stay the rising- 
rebellion, he told his Southern comrades in Congress, that 
HJnce they had determined to settle the matter with thv 
sword, he accepted the challenge and would meet them on 
the battle-field. This declaration he truly and nobly 
sustained. 



SEVENTT-EIGIITn REGIMEXT 0. V. V. I. 185 

His name was a liost npon the l)attlG-field. lie had a 
iacility of hispiring liis troops with a courage and energy 
iinsurpassod. I^o General has done hettcr fighting, nor 
engaged in heavier or severer hattk^s. lie was always 
vietorious. He would always be seen in the thickest of the 
figlit on horseback, hat in hand, leading his Division for- 
Avard. 

AVheii he returned to his honie from the halls of Con- 
gress he tokl his friends : "I will never sheath my sword 
for courtly halls or civil honors, until my country is saved 
iVom the bloody tornado that is desolating the fairest land 
on earth — never until tlie old flag floats iu triumph from 
every hill top on Columbia's soil," 

"When the party opposed to the war jiiade every .cflbrt to 
have him takes sides with them and aguiij.st thje war, he 
tells them : 

'^ Party lin.es and partisan feelings should 1)0 swalloAved 
up in patriotism. I must &ay that I deeply regret to see 
men in Illinois forget their country for their pari^y. AVhile 
your brothers are falling in your country's service like 
lerives of autumn beibre tlie wintry blast; while their bodies 
lay bleaching beneath tlie summer sun ; Avhile the nation is> 
sufi'ering throes of agony and crying for help, you ^ve 
wrangling over conventions and candidates. 

'■■ In the name of God, fellow-citizens, cease this clamor, 
Turn politics over to old men and women, and rally like 
true soldiers to the standard of your country, I was once 
a politician, Ijut so help me God, I will never sheath my 
sword till my country is saved and the rebellion ended. 
These arc my politics, and indeed I am surprised to find men 
talking of anything else. 

''Your country calls for aid, and it needs it now,. It will 
accept voluntary assistance if it can get it. If not, men 
will be forced into the ranks. There are many reasons why 
men do not go to war, and very few reasons wky some mcii. 
should not go. 



18G HISTORY OF THE 

" But there are some who say, ' I can't go ; this is a war 
to free the niggers.' This charge is not worth attention ; 
but, although no such object is contemplated in tlie pros- 
ecution of tlje war, yet the negroes are getting free pretty 
fast. It is not done by the army, but they are freeing 
themselves ; and if this war continues long, not a slave Avill 
be left in the whole South. iS'ow let me say to those Avho 
are anxious about the interest of slavery, if you wish 
slavery to continue, join the army and help us whip out 
the re1)el3 quick, and there will probably be a fev^'^ old 
stumps left; if not, then slavery must go. 

" ^ow, my principles on this question are, if the master 
is engaged in the attempt to overthrow this Government, 
take the lives of our people, and desolate our homes, and 
ilie slaves get free, it's none of my business. It is a family 
quarrel in which I shall not interfere. If tlie question 
was presented me as to wliich should live, the Un.ion or 
slavery, I would say, tlie Union to my last breath. Tlie 
Union is worth everything. If the sacritice of a million 
of men was necessary to the salvation of this government, 
and nothing else would save it, and I was the arbiter of its 
destinies, I would consign the million to death — and die with 
them. 

"I am for a vigorous prosecution of this war. To do this 
we must have men, and thousands of them. If necessary I 
would call out every able bodied man in the lo^^al States — 
turn the Government over to our mothers, wives and daugh- 
ters. I would give those who wanted to go an opportunity, 
and these who did not want to go, I would make an oppor- 
tunit}' for them; I would make them fight for the Govern- 
ment. I would stretch the army from the Atlantic to the 
Rocky ]\Iountains, and with fixed bayonets and solid pha- 
lanx I would give the order "Forward March !" to the Gulf 
of Mexico. Every man I met, who was willing to fight for 
the Government, I would place a musket in his hands, let 
liim fall into ranks; and to every one who did not, I would 
give the order, " double-quick time, march !" I would drive 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 187 

every one of them before me; those who would not submit, 
when we reached the Southern boundary line, I would pitch 
head and heels into the Gulf". 

"The man wlio fails to lend his influence and ener<>;ies in 
this crisis, who lingers while liberty bleeds, is worthy a trait- 
or's doom. It is a struggle between Eepublicanism and 
anarchy. It is too late now to inquire into the causes that 
brought on the war — the day of compromise has long since 
ended, it is with the sword, the bullet, and the bayonet that 
this national difliculty is to be settled. "\Ye have a cunning 
and a powerful foe with which to contend — he is in fearful 
earnest, and has Ijeen all the while; the die is cast, the Gov- 
ernment must be preserved. It may cost millions of blood 
and treasure, but we must conrpier." 

Tlie regiment with the Third Division under General 
Logan left Bolivar the third of ISTovember. ISTearly two 
hundred volunteer recruits had been added to the regiment 
a few days previous. The war begins to assume greater 
earnestness on the part of the Union army ; rebel property 
is no longer guarded, and the opposite extreme is reached. 
Almost ever}' thing is destroyed. The march from Bolivar 
to Lagrange, a distance of twenty-six miles, was very des- 
tructive; the beautiful country with its rich and well improv- 
ed plantations was swept by storms of fire. 

The march of the different columns could be seen for 
miles and their comparative advance determined by the 
clouds of smoke darkening the horizon; an officer who would 
express any disproval, was regarded as a rebel s^'inpathiser 
or tender footed, and desirous of prolonging the war. 
The Seventy-Eighth, I am proud to say, inflicted less vandal- 
ism through the part of the country it marched than others, 
but it was evident that men were not displeased, l)ut give 
manifestations of delight when they gazed upon the burn- 
ing plantations. The exclamations would pass along the 
ranks, "that's right," "good for them," let them know that 
the Yankees are coming. The Corinth forces upon our left, 
laid the country waste over which they marched. Tba 



185 HISTORY OF THE 

Mcmpliis forces on tlic right, were no less severe. Such 
piiuishment may he justly deserved, but I cannot help feel- 
ings of regret and disapprovrd. It is an unnecessary wasto 
and destruction of property, and had I the pOAvci" 1 would 
command forbear. It is demoralizing to the soldier. 

The health of the regiment is good, all are ready and 
anxious for the march. Tlio soldiers are earnest and willing 
to undergo any toil, trial, and danger that will give success 
to our arms and victory over rebellion. The regiment 
]narched as far as Lagrange, where the army halted, for 
some daj's. The season was pleasant and the situation 
<'omibrtable and clicorfiil: much time here was spent in both 
regimental and brigade drill. 

The following correspondence to tlic Morgan Herald, 
by Captain A. A. Adair, we give as farther histoiy of the 
regiment at this place: 

We left our .camp on Monday morning, November 3d, 
and were formed in line, on the road leading to Grand 
d unction, Avhere we were necessitated to I'cmain two or 
three hours before we got into motion; but the advance was 
finally made, and we arc off for the interior of Dixie, with 
Itlanket and haversack, hoping to get a chance to meet or 
come up with l*rice and his swift running cohorts and 
army, that would rather run than fight. 

This being the third time the Seventy-Eighth had entered 
upon its march to the Junction, we thought surely it would 
be the charm. The roads were terribly dusty, but that 
made no difrerence, and we pulled up and encamped for 
the first night, about two miles south of A"an l>uren, where 
we Juid abundance ot good chestnut rails for fires, making 
the best of that night. After breakfast was over, we soon 
put out again on our march. The First Tennessee Cavaby 
(Union) in the advance; and of course they are acquainted 
in tliese parts, and knovv^ well who are secesh, and who 
are not, but as nearly all are the former, you may easily 
imagine how property had to suffer. The fences along the 
roads were all in ilames, which were sometimes difficult to 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 189 

pfiss. At one place an old rebel had his wenches out 
tearing down the rails, making an eiibrt to extinguish the 
tlcuncs. All his bucks I presume had run awaj, and left 
tlie glory of servitude. On the next plantation not only 
tlio fencing, but a line dwelling, costing twenty thousand 
ilollars, was wrapped in flames, the rebel women having 
only time to get out that indispensable article in soutliern 
c!iiv;iUy, the piano. I suppose our cavalry wanted tlieni 
to console themselves "Ilai'd Times," or something after 
the same sort. The old nuui had ran olf in search of !iis 
riglits, leaving the women and cliildren to tiie vaiuhils. 
The voice of approval was heard to pass along our lines, 
that is right, destroy everything they have got, and then 
their w;ir will end, and not till then. This thing of guard- 
ing rel)el property, Avhen the o^vner is in tlie field lighting 
us, is })l;iyed out. This is the sentiment of every private 
soldier in the army. 

(.)nr second day's march 1)rought us withiii half a mile of 
Lagrange where we bivouaced for the night, but as usual 
Company E. had to go on picket; we were posted about four 
hundred yards behind the regimen.t and inside of other 
ibrces. Tlierefore not being in a very dangerous '-posislf ' 
we built big fires of rebel rails (which ahvays seem to burn 
better than Cnion rails) along our posts. It is reported that 
(Uir ;vdvance drove out of this place about five thousand (if 
the invincible chivalry, and had a skirmish with them at 
Davis' Mills, which might have been considerable of a fight 
had the rebels stood their ground. 

On Wednesday morning the Seventy-Eighth Ohio and 
Tliirt;v-Eirst Illinois, and a detachment of the Seventh Illi- 
nois Cavalry, with a section of artillery went out on a recou- 
nt »isanco on the Scmerville road. 'We halted aljout eight 
miles out, planted the artillery and put out pickets, v/hile the 
cavalry went ahead to see about the rebels. They returned in 
two or three hours with three butternuts, being the result (;f 
the trip. Eluding no enemy there except the women wo 
started l)ack, and got into camp about dark. When we got 
inside of our encampments, marching through them to our 



190 HISTORY OF THE 

own, tlie question was asked at every rod, what regiment? 
Tlie answer was given again and again, "Seventy-Eighth" 
Ohio. One fellow when receiving this answer responds in a 
courteous manner, "damn the Seventy-Eighth Ohio, it is 
every where." 

On these marches and scouts persimmons and grapes 
have to sutler. Sweet potatoes and apples are about played 
out in this country. In places where our army has l)een 
encam])ed a few days it is surprising how all good things 
disappear. 

The tirst night of our arrival here, before guards had 
been posted, the boys went for every thing in the eating 
line; for they were out of rations and there was no chance 
to get any tiU they came from Bolivar. Fresh beef and 
dead hogs were in good demand. 

The Tweutietli, Sixty-Eighth and Seventy-Eighth Ohio 
and Twenty-Third Indiana, constitute the Erigade, com- 
manded by Colonel ]M. D. Leggett. Since the arrival of the 
new recruits our regiment numbers about eight hundred 
men. In these parts it is regarded a number one regiment. 
An order from the War Department was read on dress 
parade last evening, to the etiect that our transportation 
had to be cnt down to four Avagons to the regiment, and 
that our large tents would be turned over to the Quarter- 
master, and small ones issued in their stead, such as we can 
carry on our backs. The tents will be just large enough to 
hold two persons, one to carry the tent, the other the poles, 
all strapped to the knapsack. What do you think of that? 
Oh, it is hard times ! and would this cruel war were over. 

Camp IsTear Lagrancje, Tennessee, 1 
November 27th, 18G2. / 

Mr. Editor: — As we are on the eve of leaving our 
pleasant camp, having been ordered to cook three da^'s' 
rations, and be ready to march by eight o'clock to-morrow 
morning, I thought it best to let yon and your readers 
know of the fac^t. Although ^e don't know where we are 
going to, yet ouf destination is supposed to be South, 



SEYEXTY-EiaUTir REGIMF>rr 0. V. V. I, 191 

probably Holly Springs, as two days' rations will just do 
us to that place; the distance being twenty-four miles 
from Lagrange. As our transportation lias been cut down 
to one wagon for two companies; an order was read on 
dress-parade last evening, for the officers to see that the 
contents of every knapsack was reduced to as little as 
possible. 

I wouldn't bo surprised if by to-morrow moniing wc 
would find it either raining or snowing, for this evening- 
it is cold and blustering, and has the appearance of being 
a very disagreeable time on our march, which is about 
the case. But wo will make the best of it, and go forth to 
meet the rebel clirpic with brave hearts and willing hands, 
looking to the God of battles for victory to crown our 
efibrts. If it should be our lot to get into an engagement, 
you may expect to hear the Second Brigade, Third 
Division, doing good service ; and especially the old 
tSc veuty-Eighth. 

Since I last wrote you, nothing of great note has trans- 
pired, althougli there has been several sharp skirmishes 
resulting in but very little loss to Ijoth sides. There was a 
squad of southern gentry brought m a few days ago, 
among whom was a rebel Major, that was captured at 
the great battle of Fort Donelson, but I suppose had since 
been exchanged. He was recognized by Lieutenant Owen, 
formerly of the Twentieth Ohio, but now acting Assistant 
Adjutiint-Gcneral of our Brigade, who happened to be in 
town on their arrival. Lieutenant Owen accompanied the 
old Fort Donelson prisoners to Chicago, and of course, 
liad the chance of making the acquaintance of several. 
Xo doubt the gentleman is now wliiling away his hours 
in a Xorthorn city, perhaps Alton, Illinois. 

Our Brigade has undergone a change since my last. 
The Twenty-Third Indiana has been transferred to tlM! 
First Brigade, and the Thirtieth Illinois put in its stead. 
The Thirtieth was with the Seventy-Eighth at the tinw 
of the capture of Jackson, and the first march to I^agrangv, 
tMid ia considered a good regiment. The statt' of the* 



192 niSTORT OF TUB 

Second Brigade is composed as follows : Colonel M. T>. 
Leggett, Seventy-Eighth Oliio, commanding Brigade. E. 
iST. Owen, Twentieth Ohio, Assistant Adjntaht-General ; 
Lieutenant J. C. Donglass, Brigade-C^uartermaster ; Adju- 
tant Hill, Twentieth Ohio, Brigade Surgeon; J. L. Gleasoii, 
Twenty-Third Indiana, Aid. But as tlie Twent\'-Third 
has been transferred, I suppose he will he removed, ami 
someone else appointed iu his place ; Lieutenant Eoherts, 
Seventy-Eight Ohio, Aid. Lieutenant 11. is knovrn hy 
most of your readers, and makes an eilicient oflicer; and in 
his ahsenec fr(un us, Con:!pany E loses u good Lieutenant, 
and a good fellovr. 

The hoys are all husy cooking rations, and. getting 
ready for tlie mai'ch. It would he quite a sight for most of 
your readers if they coidd sec a regiment, on tlie eve of 
a marchj living around, getting all tilings ready, and 
seeing that we have plent}- to eat, ^vhieh is the most esscn.- 
tial thing on a march. And each one has to look out 
for xTo. 1, or he will Ijc left in the lurcli. We have all 
])een lilted out witl*. clothing, knapsaclcs, haversacks, can- 
teens, &c., and have seen everybody Vv'C v/ant to see exccjft 
the Paymaster, who is behind hand conslderabl}', and there 
is no prospect of bim making his a[)pearance very soon. 
All the kind of currency we have is Sutler chips, -winch 
are cireulated pretty profusely; all the sutlers in tlie 
Brigade taking each othei''s tickets. In con.seipieuee of 
liaving no other mOiiey, we are at a loss to hu}' the news- 
l>apers, which come through our cam}) every day. ^>Vhen 
ottering the chips for papers the reply is, ''They are ]»layed 
out,'"' Avhich is the case v>d}en any other can be had. 

The health of our regiment is good, generally speakino-, 
ljutf)r Oompany E I can testify for certainty; oidy on<; 
being sick and he is fast recovering, which I thirjk is good 
considering the season — Company F buried two last week; 
and yesterday Company II one. The weather Ave are hav- 
ing now is rather curious, the days being warm and the 
nights very cold, which you know is apt to bring on sick- 
ness. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 193 

Our Brigade, as well as the other Brigades in the 
Division, were reviewed on last Monday by General Grant, 
in company with McPherson and Logan. It was short, 
but he seemed well pleased with the troops. On the ground 
were several of the jSTorthern fair sex, who attracted a 
great deal of attention ; it is not often we soldiers get a 
chance to see them, but I thought th,ey looked natural. 
There were also quite a number of correspondents on the 
ground, taking notes of things that passed. If your 
readers wish to get a fuller description than I can give, they 
can probably do so by getting the Commercial or Chicago 
Tribune, as they both have correspondents traveling with 
this command. Good bye. 

Yours truly, Typo. 

Camp near Oxford, Miss., Dec. 8, 1862. 

Mr. Editor: — As I was interrupted while writing a 
communication to you at Holly Spi'ings, by the startling- 
words, "tall in I" and having a little leisure time now, I 
will try and tinish it. AVlieiivcver the bugle sounds to " tall 
in,'' everything has to be stopped, and everybody in line as 
fjuick as possible, for there is no telling how soon we will 
be needed, 

Well, the morning we left Lagrange, whic-h was the 28th 
ult., old Sol was shining forth in all his splendor, and every 
one seemed to l)e in good spirits at the prospect of a forward 
movement South. It was some time before the army 
could get in motion, we having to stand and lie around 
nearly all day before we could get under way. We had 
only got three miles from our camp at 4 P. M. The reason 
of our delay was, I believe, that General Hamilton's forces 
from the Junction were to come in alicad and take the 
advance, but were too late in starting, and we had to keep 
back until they passed. 

When we got fully under wa}^ we went it like troopers, 
having good roads to travel. We passed the Mississippi 
line at dark, but had to travel on until about 9 o'clock 

13 



194 HISTORY OF THE 

before wo could find water, so wo conld encamp. Water 
in some places is very scarce, the inhabitants having to 
haul it two and three miles in barrels. It was fnhj 10 
o'clock before wo got settled so as to got our "grub" and 
bods ready. That uight was the lirst wc passed within onr 
little shelter tents, they having boeu issued out to us the 
morning wo started. In some instances they might be 
considered a good institution, and again the-y might be 
considered worthless. I don't think the inventor was 
blessed with an overplus ( f brains, or he would have got 
up a little better thing. They consist of two pieces of heavy- 
canvas, made so as to fasten at eitlier side or end, (that is, 
tlioy have buttons all over them,) but six uien generally 
])unk together, so that both ends can be clo.'^ed. Each man 
carries a lialf tent and polo^ which is about the size of a 
broom-stick. The trouble is, they arc too small; but the 
j)rincipal objection is, we have to carry them. I have often 
jieard of people in the oldeu times taking up their beds and 
walking, but I never heard of iK?oi)le walking with their 
liouses on their backs until we had it to do ourselvet^. 

AVe were routed out early next morning to proceed, but 
could only got a short distance until we were delayed its 
on yesterday. Vie. contented ourselves this time by crack- 
ing liickory nuts, which appear to be very plenty down 
here. But we soon commenced moving, and didn't have to 
stop again until we got to Ooldwater, eighteen miles fro-m 
Lagrange, where we found plciity of good water. Iludson.- 
ville is a little town one and a-half miles from Coldwater, 
nnd was perfectly deserted witli the exception of a negro 
Vv^oman. 

Part of the troops moved on to Holly Springs that night, 
l>ut our Division remained until morning, when we had to 
put out, carrying knapsack, house aud everything else we 
use. Yv'hun other troops would ask our regiment, they 
would get tlie reply, " Wo arc in the Quartermasters 
Department; we have turned over all the mules, and carrj 
the load ourselves."' 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH KEGIMEXT 0. V. V. I. 1D5 

We heard the first cannouading about 11 o^clock Sunday 
morning, when witliin two miles of Ilohy Springs. It was 
said to be the rebels throwing shell at our advance from 
their fortifications on the Tallahatchie, but they did no 
harm. We entered Tlolly Springs ahout 2 P. M., with our 
colors unfurled to Southern breezes, and the drums boating 
to the tune of " Yankee Doodle" and " Dixie," which made 
tliem open their eyes. As it was Sunday, we got a chance 
to see some of the fair sex, on their way to and from 
church, but they all turned a snappy lip to us, and seemed 
to think we Yankees had no right to come down and 
disturb their peaceful homes. 

Holly Springs appears to have been at one time a place 
of a good deal of wealth, and I should judge it contained, 
before the war, three or four thousand inhabitants ; but 
now, I suppose there is not three hundred. We encamped 
about half a mile from town. While here I heard there 
were three hundred ])risouers, and two pieces of camn lai 
]ji-ought in. AVe found a good many sick secesh here, but 
tliey were taken care of. That night we had a heavy rain, 
and the most of our tents stood it first rate. 

The first of December came in a pretty cold day ; but, 
nevertheless, we got orders to be on hand and proceed oii 
our journey. 

The further down we get, the country and roads 
a])pear to get worse. We traveled to-day, about eight 
miles, to a place called Waterford, where we had to wait for 
a Division to go out before wo could encamp ; keeping us 
standing around in the cold two. or three hours. We were 
rulled up at day-light next day, to proceed. We had not 
more than got started when it commenced raining*, and con- 
tinued all day. We got within a mile and a-lialf of the 
liver, when we had to lie over and wait until the bridge 
(which the rebels had destroyed) could be repaired. Here 
we were in sight of their first fortifications, which they 
abandoned on Sunday night, not getting them entirely 
iinished. There is one con^iolation we have in stopping so. 



196 . HISTORY OF THE 

often, and that is, there is plenty of fresh meat in the?e 
parts. 

We thought that by daylight next morning we wonld he 
able to cross the river, but it was fully noon before we got 
over, having to go around a big swamp. Tlieir main forti- 
lications were on the banks of the river, and appeared to 
be very formidable. When they leave places like this, you 
may bet they will not stand anywhere. They say the 
reason they left was that Steele was coming in their roa.r 
and cutting oft" their supplies, and that they couldn't stand. 
-From the river we only went about three miles until we 
camped, to await the arrival of our train, which had not 
yet got over the river. Here our camp was insight of 
Abbeville, a station on the railroad, and at which place 
the rebels had burned the depot containing a lot of 
clothing, provisions, etc. They had all been newly clothed 
lately, but were badly in want of shoes, which they say 
they cannot get. I was told by a ladj' that they had bee^i 
encamped around there since about the 18th of last June, 
when Villipigue's Division came there. 

When we left Waterford wo were ordered to leave our 
knapsacks behind, to be hauled l)y the teams, taking only 
our tents and blankets. At Abbeville we remained two 
days in consequence of our teams not coming up. When 
our things came they were mussed up in every kind of 
shape, a great many not being able to find their knap- 
sacks, your humble servant being one of that number, 
which, I suppose, will be a total loss. Consequently 3-ou 
can't think hard of me for not writing very often, as my 
portfolio is gone to the "spad- weasels." Here, as well as 
before, we Ibund fresh moat in abundance. It rained nearly 
all the time we were there. 

We left Abbeville about G o'clock on Friday morning 
for Oxford, a distance of eleven miles, which we reached 
about 4 P. M., through one of the muddiest roads tliy.t ever 
was traveled. J3ut there was a strife gotten up betwceia 
Quimby's Division and ours, to see which would get there 



SEVKXTY-EianTH REOmENT 0. V. V. I. 197 

first; General Grant promising the advance in future to 
the Division that reached Oxford first, and of course we 
won the laurels. But it was done by some awful hard 
marching. They had one side of the road and we the 
other, and it was " nip and tug " all the way, except about 
two miles, when they commenced lagging behind. Some 
of the officers had a pretty warm time, such as drawing 
revolvers on each other, etc., but no serious damage was* 
done. 

We are now encamped about a mile from Oxford, in 
the woods, but are clearing it out as fast as we need wood. 
Oxford, I think, is the prettiest little place I have seen in 
the South. It is a place of about fifteen hundred inhab- 
itants, and everything appears to be kept so neat and clean. 
We are now about fifty-fivfe miles from Lagrange, and by 
]S"ew Year's you may expect to hear of our being in Jackson. 
We have received no papers now for over a week, although 
we get our mail every two or three days. 

We have quite a joke on some of our Company E boys 
Yesterday six of them went out "jayhawking," when the 
cavalry caught them and brought them to headquarters, 
where they were put under arrest, when they were finally 
released and told they should learn a lesson by this. I 
mention no names. 

As a general thing, the boys have stood the march first- 
rate, with the exception of a few sore feet, and eating a 
little too much fresh meat. We arc all in good spirits, 
anxiously aw^aiting orders to proceed^; but I don't think we 
will leave until the cars get to running down here. They 
are running as far as Holly Sjjrings now, and as the bridge 
across the Tallahatchie was only partially destroyed, I 
think it will not be long until they get down this far. 

I will try and keep you posted in regard to our movements 
as best I can. Yours, truly, Typo. 

Water Valley, Miss., Dec. 22, 1862. 
Mr. Editor : — Our changes are so sudden and frequent 
that when we commence a letter we know not where we 



198 HISTORY OF THE 

may finisli it. When we awake in the morning the qne.^- 
tion naturally presents itself, where will we sleep the next 
night? When we lie down, where may morning find nrs ? 

We left the Yocknapatafa river on the 18th, abont 2 
P. M.; advanced three and a-half miles and encamped that 
niglit. And next day the hoys worked hard to make their 
camp pleasant, clearing ofl' the ground and putting their 
tents in the most comfortable manner the circumstances 
would permit. About sundown all were expressing their 
delight that everything was in good order, and comfortably 
fixed for a cozy, happy night's rest. Here and there lay p. 
quarter of beef, a hog or sheep, whicli the boys had confis- 
cated, and expected to enjoy an extraordinary supper and 
breakfast. But before supper was cooked, an order came 
to move camp immediately. Twenty minutes were given 
to strike tents and pack up, which was done, and we were 
off on our march without supper. 

We encamped that night at Water Valley, or rather that 
morning. Our Brigade, as usual, is selected for these 
sudden moves, and for outpost duty. This is imposed upon 
us in consequence of being under Illinois power. Tliia 
Brigade is now six or eight miles in advance of tlie other 
Brigades of our Division ; which subjects us to much heavy 
duty, such as repairing the roads, heavy picket duty, and 
great vigilance to guard against surprise. We are to be up 
every morning, and in line of battle at 5 A. M., and stand 
thus till after sunrise. But we soon get to enjoy this rather 
than shun it; and are glad that it is in the sunny Soiith. 
where we do not freeze. 

The Seventy-Eighth are encamped on a lot owned by a 
school teacher, who has his little school room a few rods 
from his humble dwelling. His room we have converted 
into a hospital; and are treating the owner and family 
kindly on account of his impoverished condition. His little 
children are crying for bread, and eat our crackers with 
the utmost gratification and palatable relish. They have, 
by great exertion, procured one meal per day. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REUIMFNT 0. Y. V. I, 199 

He professes to be a strono; Union man, but tliinks the 
war, on the part of the North, is for Abolition purposes, 
which he sustained by certain Democratic papers in the 
Xorth. When I told him tlie light in which these papers 
were viewed, the motives which animated them, and how 
they were regarded by the people, he confessed to have 
formed altogether Avrong conceptions of the spirit and 
])Ower of the K"orth. lie is most agreeably disappointed in 
regard to the character of our arm}' ; never having becTi 
in the ISTorth, and never acquainted with the Northern 
people, he is happy to lind that they are not the unprin- 
cipled vandals and rufHans that he supposed ; and that we 
infinitely stand above the S'nithcrn soldier, in every manly 
trait. The great mistake that the muss of the people 
here, and in all the South, make, is, they have not regarded 
the war on their part as a war of rebellion, but one of 
defense. It is remarkable what strange, inconsistent 
opinions they have formed and been taught in reference to 
the war; and when we meet a good, honest-hearted man, 
who is content to live and do just as his ancestors did, who 
thinlvs little for himself, and does not believe that tlie 
world moves, or that society' is progressive, or that the 
earth revolves on its axis, and its revolution around the suii 
as a common center of a system of worlds, is an Abolition 
He, or a Yankee infidelity. When we converse with such, 
with what astonishment they seem to reg:ard and receive 
our views of the war. It reminded me much of talking to 
•Sabbath School children — telling them interesting anec- 
dotes. 

We learned last evening that rebel cavalry had taken 
possession of Holly Springs, capturing two regiments 
stationed there, and burning all our stores of provisionfi; 
also destroying much of the railroad. We may feel thiB 
loss and misfortune severely, for the want of provisions and 
rations, unless the road is again repaired in a lew days. 
The idea of leaving two regiments to protect a place like 
Holly Springs, and the immense amount of stores accumu- 



200 HISTORY OF THE 

lated tliere, as a general depot for our army, is preposterous, 
and shows a great Want of generalship somewhere; and 
some one — I need not say who — should be held responsible 
for such a military mistake and blunder. 

It is a great mistake, and our people should by this time 
have learned it, that these important posts should not be 
protected by new regiments. These places need the best 
troops in the service, and the oldest regiments should be 
put there. The whole thing is done to gratify ambitions 
men, to open the avenue as wide as possible to aspirants, 
who are in the service solely for sellish purposes ; conse- 
quently new regiments in this department are regarded and 
spoken of as of little account. Everything is done to make 
a;5 little use of them as possible. The officers of an old 
regiment will scarcely condescend to treat the officers of a 
now regimiment with common military courtesy. 

Halt! Here comes an order, which reads: "Move 
immediately with all camp and garrison equipage, wagons 
and ammunition in front." Of course this means a backward 
movement. Wliat is up is known only to headquarters. 
We soon shall ascertain. 

December 23.— We left Sabbath evening about dark, 
and arrived at Oxford Monday noon. A distance of twenty 
miles was marched in that short space of time, halting a 
few hours only during the night. As far as we can learn, 
our destination is ]Memphis, for which place we Avill start 
in the morning. It becomes necessarj^ to pursue a new 
line of operations, making the Mississippi river the basis. 

To-day, while remaining at this place, I made a visit to 
the Mississippi University, the most extensive and distin- 
guished institution of learning in the South. There are 
eight large brick buildings, and four dwellings for the 
professors, in all twelve, situated in a pentagonal grove of 
about twenty-five acres. I made the acquaintance of 
Professor Quinche, a graduate of Marietta (Ohio) College, 
and formerly a resident of Galena, 111. And strange as it 
may seem, he is an ardent and devoted secessionist. I spent 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 201 

nearly all the forenoon with him in passing through the 
diftbrent departments. The library is small, containing 
5,000 volumes; some choice ancient works from England. 
The cabinet is the most extensive, and said to be unsur- 
passed in the United States. It consists of a rich collection 
of marine, terrestial, iluvatile shells, and is the result of 
tvventj^-five years labor and experience, purchased by Dr. 
D. W. Budd, of !N"evv York city. It contains over four 
hundred genera, and upward of live thousand species, and 
more than twenty thousand individual shells, mau}^ of which 
have never been described in works on conchology. The 
mineral collection, purchased by Mr. Francis Markoe, of 
Washington City, is inferior to none in the world. It 
contains a large number of rocks, minerals and fossils from 
diiierent parts of the world. The chemical department is 
equally extensive, containing many of the largest apparatus 
in the world, purchased in Germany at a cost of over 
$100,000. The astronomical department is a large building, 
containing a large tower, with a moveable turret and tele- 
scope, costing ten thousand dollars in the city of Boston. 

Frederick A. P. Barnard, L.L.D., is President of the 
institution. Being from Massachusetts, he left as soon as 
tlie State seceded. Three other professors broke for the 
jS^orth ; two went into the Confederate service, and left the 
institution without students, and but one professor. Out of 
a class of twenty-eight seniors, in 18G1, all save one are in 
the Confederate army. 

The University is established upon a grant of land con- 
sisting of thirty-six sections, made by Congress to the State 
of Mississippi, in 1819'. The land was leased for many 
years, and afterward sold to the highest bidder for a million 
of dollars, which forms the endowment of the institution. 
I'^or one \'ear it has been a general hospital for the rebel 
army, containing at one time eighteen hundred patients. 
In a new made grave-yard there are seven hundred rebel 
soldiers buried. All grave-yards we passed on our 
marches seemed to be tilled with fresh graves. What a 



202 niSTOKY OF THE 

startling record of mortality will the years 1861 and 18G2 
mark in this country ! How it admonishes the student of 
prophecy that the time is near; a time ot the most startling 
developments and astounding events that have ever occur- 
red in the Christian Era. 

Preceding the fullillment of remarkable prophecies, a 
short period of the most fearful mortality is set forth vividly ^ 
by both Jewish and Christian .writers. The impress of 
God's doings in the world, and his dealings with nations, 
Rcem to be resting upon the minds of great men, and 
shaking the political pillars of Government. " AYatchman, 
what of the night ?" is asked and echoed from heart to 
heart, deeply anxious to know the signs of the times. God 
is shaking and will shake political thrones till kings and 
rulers learn that they are under His power, and that He 
reigns upon the political throne as well as in his spiritual 
kidgdom. 

AVe have just received an order to be ready to march at 
daybreak. On our backward march to this place we burned 
every bridge and trestle-work, great and small, upon the 
raih'oad. Our Brigade has been ten miles farther South 
than other troops, except the cavalry. The Seventy-Eighth 
regiment does more guard duty, more fatigue duty, and 
lieavier marches than other regiments in the service. We 
are dashed about here and there and everywhere, upon 
hurly-burly, foolish expeditions, so that it is a wonder we 
have a man left for duty. 

All Company E will be able to march with us to-morrow 
except three — two JJowers', new recruits sick with fever, 
and John ^V. Garrett with small-pox. They were sent to 
tlie general hospital at Holly Springs. The regiment has 
been exposed at diucrent times to small-pox, and nearly 
one dozen cases have been already sent away. 

"We are in utter darkness as to what is gomg on in the 
world, especially in regard to the war. We receive no 
papers. All is perplexity, doubt and rumor. The weather 
lias been warm and pleasant. To-night there are unmi&- 



PE^^ENTY-Ernnxn regiment o. v. v. i. I20'l 

t.ikablc sie:ns that we will have another few (lavs i-ain and 
Rtoriii, which the soldier much dreads; we therefore antici- 
pate a few days of hardshi})s and discomforts. 

Yonrs, etc., T. M. R. 

Tlio raid made l)y the rebels into IIollv Sprin-^^s was a 
terrible disaster to the place. The explosion of the mncra- 
zinc shook the city^ so violently as to break nearly all tbr^ 
windows, and left nearly all the fjio, large jivdilic and 
business buildings a pile of ruins. Tlie amount of sutler 
stores captured by the rel)els ^vas immense. Tlic amount 
of city pro|)erty destroyed was estimated by millions, but ap 
it was rebel property (k^stroyed by rebels, few regrets came 
from our army. The circumstance did much to awaken a 
Union feeling among the citizens. C)ur trooj^s had 
impressed the people very lavorably ; no acts of violence 
or vandalism could be attril)uted to our soldiers ; no citizens 
were disturbed in tlieir peaceful pursuits; all were granted 
])rotection. The ladies occasionally manifested unkind 
feelings, and would frequently give an exhibition of malig- 
nant contempt, by insulting our soldiers, passing and 
]'c-passing their dwellings. Two soldiers, when on police 
duty, were one afternoon insulted by a couple of ladies f>f 
wealth, wlio put their heads out of the window and 
addressed them in words of ridicule and contempt, whik' 
the father was sitting in the door listening to it all, with no 
words of disapin'oval. The soldiers determined they would 
not tolerate it any longer, so about 10 o'clock they equipped 
tliemselves and proceeded to the al)Ove liouse, rapped at 
the door, Avhen the old gentleman came down stairs in ]\\b 
night attire, and opened the door, when the soldiers imme- 
diately sprang in, telling the much alarmed man that their 
mission was for no otfensivc or harmful purpose, but pui-cly 
a military and peaceful one, and therefore requested him to 
enter the parlor with them a few moments, which wa» 
done, and a light obtained; they proceeded to put the old 
man through nearly all the movements in military tactics. 
H-e pkad v/ith them to excuse him, but no entreaty or 



f04 HISTORY OF THE 

reward could prevail. Tlicy gave liim a gun, taught him 
the whole manual of arms, and then the common time- 
around the room, and then through the facings and double- 
quick around the parlor, till he perspired freely. After about 
one hour's drill they dismissed him, telling him on 
to-morrow evening ho would be called upon to repeat the 
same lesson with some adsitional movements, but suggested 
that if soldiers were treated with more respect by his 
daughters, for whoso disrespect they held him responsible, 
ttie lesson might not be repeated, but hereafter be discon- 
tinued. They left the house, and the old man to sleep over 
his lirst lesson in military tactics. The young ladies in 
tlie meantime had become alarmed and fled to a neighbor's 
house, while the father was reciting his lesson. The next 
day the windows Avere kept closed and no ladies wer« 
either heard or seen. 

The regiment and Brigade arrived at Davis' ]Mills Janu- 
ary 7th, where one company of an Illinois regiment had 
l)een posted, and repulsed a few days previous a large force 
of rebel cavalry. Here we received mail and boxes from 
liome, which were quite a welcome reception after the long 
wearisome march. The morning of the 8th all commenced 
to construct fortiiications, v>dnch looked toward encamping 
for some time ; but the morning of the 9th orders were 
received to march toward ]Memphis. Camp was soon 
broken up and the troops under way. Passing through 
Lagrange, marched live miles beyond and encamped for 
the night. Here it rained heavily all the night, making 
the roads almost impassable. The morning of the 10th we 
marched to Moscow, where w^e remained over the Sabbath. 
(Jn Monday marched to Lafayette, where we remained till 
AVediiesday morning. Here it rained all day and night, 
which made it very unpleasant, and caused us to still remain 
over at this place. On the 16th it commenced snowing and 
freezing; the snow fell eight inches in depth, and colder 
weather we thought we had never experienced. The men 
sutiered very much from the cold. The sick were sent 



SEVENTY-EIGHTII REGIMENT 0. V. V. T. 205 

from this placo on ears to ]\Iemphi??. Near Germaiitown, 
fifteen miles from Memphis, tlie curs ran off tlie track and 
Bcn'eral were severely wounded. On the morning of the 
18th earap was again broken np and the march toward 
3.1emphis was resumed. That night the troops, after a very 
long and tedious march, encamped near Gerniantown, 
Avhere we endured another niglit of constant rain, Tho 
]iext morning the troo})3 marched to jVIcmphis, and 
encamped in a beautiful grove. 

The following letters have been written by Captain A. 
A. A<]air, who signs liimself " Typo,'' and give a very 
good history of the regiment while encamped near Mcm- 
};liis : 

Caii? near Mempius, Tenn,, January 23, ISGo. 

Mr. Editor: — Although my promise in regard to giving 
you a letter every week or two has not been fulfiHcd, yet it 
was not my wish to avoid it. The reason is, we have not 
l)eeii settled long enough at au}^ one place to aflbrd an 
opportunity. It has been march, maivh all the time for the 
last two m.onths, 

Aly last letter, I believe, was Avritten at Oxford, Miss., 
from v/hich place we Avent as far soutli as Water Valley ; 
being farther into Dixie tluin any other infantry of our 
command. We had been there only a day, when we heard 
of Forrest's cavalry raid along the Mobile Sz Ohio Railroad. 
Tlien it Avas thought expedient to turn and take the back 
track, as they had cut off all communicatio}i and sn})prk'a 
from us. 

This thing of going backward Avas somethiTi^: Ave Avero 
not used to, and it Avent a little •• against th.e grain." But 
as Ave had the name of doiui^ more hard marchin2: and 
scouting than any other regiment in the service, and kneAr 
Ave could "hold our OAvn" if they Avonid only keep us in 
"•hard-tacks" and " soAv-belly," (which is the main stay 
of life in the army,) Ave of course consented to the move. 

We travel-od back over the same ground, stopping no 
longer than a day or tAvo at a place, except at Abbeville, 



20G HISTORY OF THE 

where wc remained about two weeks. Tliere we spent onr 
(Miristmas and Xew Year's. Tliey were rather dull holidays 
to us ; but '\VQ did the best we could under the cireum- 
- stances. On Christmas eve a select ball was held in a negro 
shantv near our own camp; and on iSTew Year's day Com- 
j)any E initiated Fort Gleason, w4iieh had been erected to 
])i'otect an old mill where our grinding- was done. For 
here we were entirely cut oft" from our u-sual "grub," and 
hail to forage and grind our own corn. AYe lived on corn 
bread «nd beans during our stay there, which we thought 
was pretty hard fare. 

AYhen ^VQ left Abbeville, in the evening, to move across 
on the other side of the Tallahatchie river, where the 
reiuaiuder of our Division was — for only our Brigade was 
stationed at Abbeville — it eommouced to rain, and con- 
tinued nearly the wliole night. It wai very dark before 
wo got over, and having no guide with us, (the otHcers 
Iniving all gone to seek shelter,) we got lost; and there we 
ha<l to stand, the rain pouring down in torrents, until some 
one went to General Logan's headquarters to find out where 
our camp was to be. Having got to it, the boys never 
waited to stack arms, but just stuck them in the mud any- 
wliore, and vvent to seek shelter. ]jnt the only thing of 
the. kind to be found was an old cotton gin, where they 
were piled in about seven deep in less than no time. The 
jii'xtmorninic vou can bet our lield oiFicers i^ot a cursinir 
frDUi Logan, for he is just that kind af a man. 

Ju coming back through Holly Springs, we found a good 
(li al of it had been destroyed, but not near as much as had 
l)i;ea reported. Since then I hear that our troops have 
liiiished the destruction of tlic placC;, which was a good 
thing. 

When about six miles from Lagrange our Brigade turned 

oil' and went to Davis' Mihs; the other two Brigades going 

to Lagrange and Grand Junction. From Davis' Mills we- 

, v/ent to AIoscov/-; and from there to Lafayette, and thence 

to Memphis, where we arrived on the 19th. Our marcL 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 207 

from Lafayette here was one of the hardest we ever had. 
It had been raining and snowing alternately for about a 
week. And as we marched nearly all the way on the rail- 
road, (the other road being in too bad a condition) the ties 
being uneven and all over ice and snow, you may bet wy 
liad a hard time getting foot-holds. But, notwithstanding 
all that, we made first rate time, traveling thirty miles in a 
day and a hall: 

Our camp id now situated about one half mile east of 
Memphis, and one and a half miles from the river. The 
]>robability is that we will stay there for some time, a 
week or two at least. There is no telling where "will be our 
destination when we leave here. It may be Yicksburg, 
and it may be some other point. On the day of our arrival 
seven thousand prisoners passed here on their way !North. 
Sherman had taken them at Arkansas Post. And yester- 
day it was reported that McClernand had taken fiv« 
thousand more; and guns were fired in honor of it. 

Before leaving Lafaj^ette, all those who were not able to 
march were sent hero on the cars. But there was a terrible 
accident liappened them when near Germantow]i, about 
fifteen miles from here. The cars ran off the track, killing 
six and wounding st'venty-five out of the Division. Six or 
seven of our company were •among them, but they all 
escaped unhurt, I believe, excepting B. F. Bailey, who was 
slightly bruised on the nose and back of the head. The 
cause was said to be carelessness on the part of the 
engineer. He didn't want to take them at all, but General 
Logan sent down a company armed and gave them orders 
to fire into flu> train if they moved without taking his sick 
on board. Logan was commander of the post; and he 
was bound to make them live up to his orders. He is just 
the man for a General ; there is no discount on him. 

The long looked for l*aymaster has at last made his 
appearance among us. He didn't do much good, though, 
as he only gave us two mouths' pay, up to the olst of 
August. Of course the new recruits got no pay at all. 



208 HISTORY OP THE 

But the Paymaster said it was the intention, in twenty days 
to pay this Department the remaining four months pay 
that is due them, which we sincerely hope is true. 

From appearances I don't beheve there will be much of 
it sent home this time, as Memphis affords so many oppor- 
tunities for spending money. And as the boys have seen 
some pretty hard times lately, they appear as though they 
would like a change of diet. But the principal diet with 
some is whisky, which is very abundant in town ; and it 
seems they are determined to have it, regardless of cost and 
consequences. A good many have been spreeing ever since 
we come here. It is getting too common, and they are 
taking means to stop it. We have camp guards on, and 
only two persons are allowed to pass out at a time, and then 
only for two hours : the passes to be approved at regi- 
mental and Brigade headquarters. We have five roll calk 
a day, and all those who are absent without leave are taken 
to headquarters and punished. To-day they are engaged 
in building a guard-house. Every day our camp is tilled 
with women and boys peddling a])ples, cakes, pies, etc., and 
as the boys are all " flush," it don't take long to empty 
their baskets. 

Business appears to be as brisk in ^.lemphis, as though no 
war was going on. It puts one in mind of Columbus or 
Cincinnati. It contains large and splendid business houses, 
together with dwellings as nice as any one could v/ish for. 
And oh ! the pretty women ! It does one's soul good to 
view their lovely features in passing along through the 
town, after being out of sight of them for so long. 

As usual, it is raining to-day. jMost of the regiment 
went over to town this morning in charge of the commis- 
sioned officers to see the city of Memphis and the raging 
Mississippi. Yours truly, Tyro. 

Camp near Memphis, Tentt., February 10, 1863. 
Mr. Editor: — The Seventy-Eighth is still alive and on 
duty, with plenty of rumors afloat as to our leaving liere 



SEVEXTY-EIOUTir RE(jmEXT 0. V, V. t, 200 

f<n* the expedition at Vicksburg. But as there arc so manj-, 
it is hard to put any confidence in tlieni. 

It '\vas rumored the ])ast few days that we were to leave 
to-da}', there being a detail made uu Sunday from the dif- 
ferent regiments for the purpose, it was s.rid, of loading tho 
quartermaster and commissary stores on the ])oats ; and as 
soon as they got loaded tlie transports for us would be on 
hand. But I guess it all turned out nix ; at least we have 
not gone yet, nor have we any orders to go that I know of. 
When we do get marching orders I will apprise your read- 
ers of the fact as soon as I can. At present there are verr 
few transports lying at the lauding, as I was down there 
yesterday. 

The news from below is rallier meagre, ilaneuvering 
appears to be the main thing on our side. And as old U. B. 
(United States, as the boys call him,) Grant is at the head, 
you may expect to hear something turn up before a great 
while. lie says that when lit- commences operations there 
he is going to light until Yicksbarg falls or lie loses e\xry 
.man; and ho is jnst headstrong enough to do it, too. TLo 
most complete thing tliat has taken place there was tho 
running of the blockade by the Federal ram Queen of tho 
West, of which, no doubt, you liave got the particulars cro 
this. 

The weather here has been ratiier wintry of late ; several 
suovn's have fallen, enough to aifjrd good sleighing; tlurc is, 
if we had the sleighs. But the past day or two it has been 
more mild, the sun shining forth in all its glory, v>diich has 
run the snow off. And now this morning ft lias set in for 
a steady rain, and we have a prospect of a little mud, wliich 
is so despised by all the b(;ys. W^e prefer suow all the tim« 
to rain and mud. 

I njust not forget to inform you that wa have at last been 
supplied with new tents, and are no longer persecuted by- 
living in holes that dogs would hardly bo contented in. 
They are called " wedge tents," and are calculated to hold 

14 



210 HISTOKY OF THE 

five and six persons. Tliej wedge riglit close to the ground, 
and appear to shed rain very well. They admit of a person 
standing up in them, iiiid we are not obliged to lie down, 
every time we change our linen (?), as was the case with 
our dog huts. Most of the tents of Company E are adorned 
with chimneys — the boys having got a lot of brick hauled, 
tried their hand at masonr}'. They are a good institution, 
and with plenty of wood we manage to live something like 
soldiers. Three cheers for the "wedge tents,'' and groans 
for the "shelters."' 

The other evening the Quartermaster opened his heart 
and gave us some liay for bed^j. Of late Ave liave been 
'•grublicd" pretty well. For some reason they have hecn 
issuing fresh bread m place of "hard-tack,'* which we don't 
object to. AVe are also in receipt of "iron-sides," beans, 
lice, hominy, c( flee, tea, sugar, salt, vinegar, etc. 

The general health of the regiment is good, but Company 
E is rather unfortunate of late, there being two of its mem- 
bers sick in camp, two in the hospital at Memphis, one at 
Lagrange, and one at Jackson. Bnt at last accounts they 
were all doing finely. And if we should leave here all the 
Bick will he left behind at the hospital in Memphis, at 
which place they are well cared for. 

I notice orders are being issued in the several commands 
forbidding the sale or bringing of the Chicago Times within 
their limits, it being too much tinctured v.'ith sccessionism. 
It ought to havi) been done long ago, for it is one of the 
leading ISTortherii Journals among the secesh. It always 
linds a ready sale in Memphis. 

To-day Lieutenant Roberts Jeft us to join the Signal 
Corps, ■\\^hich is being re-established in Grant's command. 
Ever since we left Lagrange he has been acting as Aid on 
Colonel Leggett's stati", and was missed by Company E very 
much, for he was always considered an efHcicnt ofhcer by 
all the company, and made a Xo. 1 Lieutenant. Yet ho 
was often with us ; but now he will be entirely taken away 
from ua. J^lav he be successfid iu his uc\r .career. 



SEVENTY-EiailTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 9H 

Company K is considered the flower of the regiment. 
The principal part of them have been on a " bust " ever 
since we came to Memphis. A good deal of whisky is 
smuggled into camp by the apple women. Company E can 
'' hold her own," but I don't think it can touch K in that 
particular. 

As Valentine Day is near at hand, I wonder if the pretty 
misses of old Morgan will think so jxiuch of the poor sol- 
diers as to send them mementoes, that they may carry them 
through the great trials and struggles they will have to 
endure in the future. Yours truly, Typo. 

Camp neap. Mempuis, Tenn,, February 19, 1863. 
Mr. Editor : — Our " marching orders " have come at 
last, and our doom may now be considered sealed. Orders, 
^vere received last night to have ten days' rations drawn, 
three of them cooked and in haversacks, and be ready to 
leave at any time after six o'clock this morning; but orders 
afterward came that we need not cook our rations until 
to-day. 

Xow this looks something like leaving, but it is nothing 
more than we have been looking for ever since we oame 
here. To-morrow will make one month since we landed 
at this place, and it may be some days yet before we 
take our departure ; still, we are under marching orders. 
<^ur destination, no doubt, is Vicksburg, or some point on 
the ^vlississippi river ; so that we can take part in the great 
movement that will shortly occur against that formidable 
place. I do not believe there are any of us overly-anxious 
to make a cruise down there at present ; but if it is neces- 
sary, (and no doubt it is) you will find the Seventy-Eighth 
ready and willing to do their part. If it should be our lot 
to get into an engagement, your readers may expect to hear 
ot them winning honors, and of the " robs '" getting " fits." 
The news from below indicates that everything is in 
motion, and that the great decisive move will take place 
before long, which will eventually put Yicksburg in our 
possession. Victory is bound to be ours. It is thought by 



212 HISTOKT OF THK 

some (our expedition being so formidable) that an evr.cua- 
tion will take place before cver^'thing wliich is intended can 
be brought to bear upon that devoted place. So mote it be. 

The best thing that has yet occurred was the passing of 
the rebel batteries by the ram Queen of the West and the 
Indianola, of which no doubt your readers are apprised 
before this. It will be the means of cutting off the river 
communication between Vicksburg and Port Hudson, and 
will, in a great measure, affect their. supplies. In the under- 
taking I believe three rebel boats were destroyed, and 
several prisoners taken. I wonder what their opinion of the 
Yankees is by this time ? 

The guerrillas of late appear to be getting rather bold 
in their operations around here, and are very num.erous. 
They often make their appearance right across the river, 
on the Arkansas side, and do a great deal of mischief, h 
was only d:iy before yesterday that they fired into and 
burned a boat opposite here, on her way down the river 
from Pittsburg. She had a cargo of coal, and as it was 
very fogg}', it is supposed she ran into the bank, where she 
was destroyed — the officers and crew presumed to be taken 
prisoners. It is said the rebels have a "Cying batter}-," 
with v,'hich they go from point to point along the river and 
fire into unarn;ed vessels as they wind along. Such bold- 
ness as that ought to be looked after, and no doubt will be. 
They are also showing themselves at different points on the 
Memphis & Charleston Pailroad, and it would not be sur- 
prising if, when Ave leave, they would make a dash into thi? 
j)]ace ; but I am of the opinion they v^'ili meet with a j)retiy 
warm reception if they do. 

The weather has been very changeable for the past week, 
but we have mud in abundance. It is enough to bring 
RJckness on us all, yet we are all getting along first rate 
with the exception of slight colds. The sick boys are ail 
doing well ; all who were not ablo to go dowa the river 
with U8 were sent to the hospitals in town. 



SEVENTY-EianTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 21S 

To-day Captain Stevenson received his resignation 
papers, they being accepted. lie will start for home in a 
few days, but not, however until we start down the river, 
as lie wants to see us oft*. He will take all letters the boys 
may send by him ; and if wo get paid oft" in time (and 
we hope we will) he will take our money home for us. By 
an unanimous vote of the company, Lieutenant McCarty 
was made Captain, (Lieutenant Roberts of course going 
up to First Lieutenant, although he is at present 
detached on the Signal Corps,) and Sergeant A. W. Stewart 
was elected Second Lieutenant. 

Friday, February 20, 1863. — We are all busy this 
morning tearing down tents and packing u]), intending 
to leave to-day. We are expecting the Paymaster every 
moment to pay U3 oft*, when Ave will take our departure 
for the rivGi" and emigrate on the boats. A detail went 
out of the regiment this morning for the purpose of 
loading the boats. Our regiment and the Eighth Illinois 
will, it is said, go down the river together, on the steamer 
Louisiana, said to be a fine large boat. To-day the sun is 
shining forth, and indications are that we will have a 
[)leasant trip. May it be^jo. Anything but a rainy time 
when on board a steamboat. 

Be sure and send us the Herald regularly, for when we 
gut to Vicksburg it will be prized by us highly. Remem- 
ber the boys of Company E to your readers of old Morgan ; 
and if we don't lose our "bean-dippers," before wo get 
to our destination, you may expect to hear of us doing 
good v\^ork at the battle of Vicksburg. Send us letters 
often; we are always anxious to hear from those at 
home. Yours truly, Typo. 



THE BATTLE OF MEMPHIS, 

GREAT NAVAL ENGAGEMENT — OCCUPATION OJ" THE CITY* 

The following is a true and life-like description of th6 
battle at the city of Memphis, which will be of interest to 
every soldier, and especially to the Seventy-Eighth Ohio: 

Events in this quarter have crowded upon each other so 
rapidly during the past thirty-six hours, that sufficient time 
has hardly elapsed to record one before another followed 
upon its heels. Yesterday Fort Pillow Tv'as taken posses- 
sion of by our forces and the river opened to within five 
miles of Memphis; to-day a great battle has been already 
fought and won, and the city occupied by national troops. 

Yes, Memphis, the commercial metropolis of Tennessee 
and hotbed of the rebellion in the South-west — Memphis, 
the city of lying newspapers and fire-eating editors — 
Memphis, the rival of Eichmond and Charleston in all that 
is dishonorable, treasonable and damnable, has fallen at last. 
With the dust of its streets clinging to my feet, and sur- 
rounded by an atmosphere tainted with disloyalty — with 
the magnificent spectacle still before my eyes, of its entire 
population huddled together in one dense mass upon bluffs, 
anxiously watching the progress of a desperate naval combat, 
upon which the fail of the city hung — with the crashing dis- 
charges of artillery, the rattle of small arms and the explosion 
of shells still ringing in my ears, I seat myself to write an 
account of the events of this morning, among the most 
important that have occurred since the war began. 



SEVENTT-EIGnTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I, 215 

THE BATTLE OP MEMPHIS. 

Ko one believed yesterday that any opposition would 
be made to our entry into Memphis, and when Flag-Officer 
Davis brought his vessels to anchor five miles above the 
city between eight and nine o'clock in the evening, the 
wonder was expressed that he did not advance and sei/.e 
liis prize at once. The gas-lights certainly gleamed tri- 
umphantly in the distance, as if beckoning him on, and 
two or three times during the night a rosy flash lit up the 
back-ground of the sky, giving rise to the fear that the 
town had been fired. 

Xo move was made, however, till about five o'clock this 
morning, when the Benton and Louisville weighed anchor 
and leisurely drifted down with the current to within a 
mile of the mouth of AV^olf river, which it Avill be 
remembered empties into the Mississippi just above 
jV[emphis. Here the rebel fleet, composed of General Van 
Dorn, Jeff. Thompson, General Be'niregard, General 
Bragg, General Lovell, General Price, Sun\ter and Little 
Rebel — eight vessels in all, under command of Captain 
Edward Montgomery — was discovered lying close to the 
Arkansas shore, directly in front of Memphis. Believing 
that men fight better on full than on empty stomachs, Flag- 
Officer Davis did not desire to bring on an engagement 
until the crews of his boats had taken tJieir usual morning 
meal, and he therefore retired. This retrograde movement 
was construed by the enemy into an ignominious flight, 
and immediately the whole rebel fleet formed iu line of 
battle and started in pursuit. 

Finding that the enemy were determined to have a figlit 
immediately, the Flag-Oflicer, unwilling to check the 
enthusiasm of his men, who were not half so hungry for 
breakfast as for battle, signaled his three remaining boats, 
the St. Louis, Carondolet and Cairo, to join him at once. 
They promptly weighed anchor, and in a few minutes 
reached the vicinity of the Benton and Louisville. By 
this time the enemy were nearly opposite the mouth of 



216 HISTORY OF THE 

Wolf river, and our boat? were perhaps a mile and a lialf 
above, with lieads up stream, aud drifting down on the 
strong current toward the foe. 

OPENIXG OF THE BALL. 

Tlie first phot was fired bj the enemy at precisely TkoO 
A. M., and passed over the lienton, dropping into tlio 
river half a mile beyond. Tvro more Avcre soon after 
iircd by the rebels, neither of wldcli took eilect. 

The distance between the opposing forces was now 
reduced to about a mile, Avhen the stern e-^ns on our boat.s 
opened upon the enemy in the liveliest manner, and the 
jight because general. Is'earer and nearer together came 
the two fleets, and louder and (piicker grew the sh.ar|>, 
crashing sound of the guns. The slumbering T\Iemi)liians, 
who little thought when tiiey lay down the night before 
to rest, that such a scene would be enacted before their 
eyes the fidiowing morning, were startled by the first 
rejK)rt of arliilery, and hastened to the bluff by thou- 
sands. All tiiought of danger, if any had existed amojig 
them, was forgotten in the excitement incident to so 
unusual and magnificent a spectacle. There lay the con- 
tending iieets in the broad bosom of the mighty river, vom- 
iting forth fire and smoke, each doing its utmost to destroy 
the otlier. A gentle breeze swe}>t up the stream, carrying 
away the clouds almost as soon as they were generated 
by the guns, and enabling spectators to get a very sat- 
isfactory view of the battle. 

About ten minutes o-fter the figlit began, when the fleets 
were not more than six or eight hundred yards apart, two of 
our rams, the Monarch and Queen of the West, which had 
heen lying under the point just above ^lemphis, on the 
Arkansas side, where they were obscured from the enemy'd 
view, shoved out, and sailing around the ilotilla, the Queen 
of the West, tlie flagship of the ram fleet, in advance, they 
passed down on the Tennessee side, at their highest rate of 
»l>ced, loudly cheered by the gunboat crews. The api>ear- 
auco of these vessels seemed to take the enemv entirely by 



SEYENTY-EIGHTn REGIMENT 0. Y. V. I. 217 

Riir]-)ri?o. Evidently they had not " reckoned " npon them, 
and not knowing? what they were, thought it best to keep out 
of their w^ay. First the rebel flotilla came to a sudden halt, 
and then it began to fall back. On went the Queen in 
splendid style, wearing a huge ruffle on her prow, and steer- 
iiig for the General Beauregard, the rebel Ijoat nearest the 
Tennessee shore. Allien only a few rods distant, the latter 
lired a gun at her, but so excited were her gunners, that 
tliey missed tlie huge target entirely. The pilot of the 
licauregard, however, understood his business better, and 
by skillful maneuvering succeeded in avoiding the blow. 

THE FIRST REBEL BOAT DISABLED. 

Xotliing discouraged, the Queen turned her bow toward 
the (Jeneral Price, the next nearest boat, and striking 
her a glancing blow on the port quarter, tore her side nearly 
oti", and caused her to take water so badly, that she had to 
l)e run to the Arkansas shore to pre^'ent her from going 
«lown in deep water. She now^ lies o})posite Ilopefield, 
partially submerged. 

As the Queen of the "VYest was leaving the Beauregard, 
the latter fired a second shot at her, which struck her on 
the l)uhvarks, causing the splinters to fly pretty freely. 
One of these struck Colonel Ellet, the conqmander of the 
]'am fleet, on the breast, stunning him severely. His flag- 
ship, after her collision with the General Price, was found 
to be disabled in some w;ay, and could not be managed. 
Tlio blow had probably started her machinery. She was 
also turned ashore, near where the General Price had sunk. 

While the Queen of the West had been doing such splen- 
did service, the Monarch followed in her w^ake, and did 
ju>t what the Queen had at first tried to do — struck the 
(ieneral Beauregard a tremendous blow amidships, com- 
]»letely disabling lier. She managed to reach the Arkansas 
shore in some way, wdien she w^nt down in fifteen feet 
water. Her crew escaped in the woods. Before being 
Htruck by the Monarch, the Beauregard had been raked 
fore and aft by our guns and was badly riddled. 



218 HISTORY OP THE 

The next victim of the rebel flotilla, which had by th'm 
time fallen down the stream as far as Beale street, was the 
(iieneral Lovell. A fifty-pound shot, fired by Captain 
Phelps of the Benton, struck her just below her water lin®, 
and caused her to sink in eighty feet water three minuteg 
after. 

The scene on the Lovell after she was struck was painful 
in the extreme. The crew stood by her, because they were 
afraid of the mighty river, until the water put out her fires 
and filled the boat with steam, scalding many of them badly, 
when all leaped into the stream. For a few minutes the 
surface of the water was covered with these unfortunate 
and misguided creatures, struggling for their lives. 

HEROIC CONDUCT OF A BOAT'S CREW FROM THE BENTON. 

And here looms np a picture of genuine chivalry and 
heroism, whicli should make the cheeks of our Southern 
defamcrs tingle with shame. A boat was promptly lowered 
from the Benton, and started for the scene to receive tlie 
drowning men. A minute before our gallant tars had 
poured shot and shell into them without mercy, for they 
were enemies then, and on an equality; but now they were 
helpless, and everything was forgotten save the dictates of 
humanity. In the hurry of the moment the boat was iyav- 
tially swamped, and tAvo of our men narrowly escaped 
drowning; but matters were soon righted, and a few hasty 
strokes of the oars brought them to whei-e the Lovell luul 
just gone down, down in the seething current, causing the 
water to whirl like a maelstrom over the forever obscured 
wreck. Quite a number of persons were rescued by the 
gallant boat's crew, some of them bleached whiter by th(* 
steam than their souls could ever have been washed if they 
had not speedily repented ; but the majority of them were 
swept away f\ud drowned. Among those known to be lost 
was her commander. Captain William Cabell, an old and 
well .knowp i:i,ver man. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH KEGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 219 

PRECIPITATE RETREAT OF THE REMAINDER OF THE REBEL FLEET. 

It is almost needless to say that ere this the enemy were 
rapi<ily retreating. Our boats, which had gone into the 
•engagement stern foremost, because they were better pre- 
pared in tliat quarter to sustain butting from the opposing 
rams, (all the rebel boats, I have neglected to say, were also 
rams,) had long since turned round, giving the enemy broad - 
sides as they swung, and were now pursuing them, head on. 
After the Lovell went down, it was most emphatically a 
running light. 

The Little Rebel, finding it impossible to escape, was 
run ashore on the Arkansas side, the crew taking to their 
heels. A few shells were sent after them, but these rebels 
can run ncai'ly as well as the Virginians, and I do not 
think velocity enough could be given to any ball to over- 
take an F. F. Y. when once fairly under way, so it is more 
than probable that all escaped. 

Next, the Jctt". Thompson was beached and fired, and 
her crew shelled in the same manner; and then the Sumter, 
and then the General Bragg — all on the Arkansas shore, 
nearly opposite Fort Pickering. If these boats had had full 
crews, how alive with running rebels the woods njusfc 
have been. 

The remaining rebel vessel, the Van Dorn, was hotly 
pursued by two of our fleetest boats, as far as the foot of 
President's Island, where the chase was given up. Her 
heels were all that saved her, and she is the only one left 
to tell the tale of the overwhelming disaster to thehemmed- 
in rebels below. No doubt she will claim that the Lincoln 
Armada was entirely annihilated. 

The most magnificent spectacle of the day was the explo- 
sion of the Jefl:'. Thompson. Shortly after she was beached, 
she was discovered to be on fire, and continued to burn 
fiercely for more than an hour, when her magazine ignited, 
blowing all that remained of the ill-fated craft into ten 
thousand atoms. A large number of shells were on board, and 
many of these were thrown liigh into the air, where they 



220 niSTORY OP THE 

hurst with a sound like the firing of a feu de joie, scatter- 
in «• their fragments in every direction. The spectacle was 
fine, ev^en in the broad glare of a June sun ; but at night 
it would have rivaled in grandeur the fi.ncst pyrotechnic 
display. 

now THE GENERAL BRAGG WAS SAVED. 

One of the most formidable looking boats of the rebel fleet 
was the Greueral Bragg. Siie v/as originally the INIarquis 
do llabann, a condemned slaver, and more recently the New 
Orleans and Galveston steamer Mexico, It was the Bragg 
ihat gave the Cincinnati her heaviest blow in the gunboat 
iight above Fort Pillow on tlio lOtli of May. Soon after 
she was run ashore this morning she was boarded by Lieu- 
tenaiit Bishoj) and a boat's crow from the Benton, who 
found her boilers dry and red hot, and the cotton between 
iier outside and inside bulwarks in flames. AVith the greatest 
difficulty they succeeded in extinguisliing the lire before 
any serious damage had been done, and after the fight slie 
Was towed up to the city. Lieutenant Bishop, a galkmt and 
gentlemanly young officer, should be assigned to the com- 
mand of the Bragg at once. 

RECAPITULATION. 

From the foregoing it will be seen that seven of the eight 
vessels composing the rebel flotilla were captured, sunk and 
destroyed, as follows : 

Geiieral Price, sunk in shoal water; can be raised. 

General Beauregard, sunk in shoal water; can be raised. 

(jrcneral Lovell, utterly destroyed. 

(loneral Thompson, burned to the water's edge. 

General Bragg, abandoned and captured. 

Little ]^ebel, abandoned and captured. 

Sumter, abandoned and captured. 

General Van Born, escaped. 

THE DAMAGE TO OUR FLEET. 

Strange as it may seem, not one of our gunboats was 
<(itruck once, and not a man was injured on our side, except 



SEVENTY-EIGnTU REGIMENT 0. Y. Y. J. 221 

Colonel Ellct. One shell exploded OYer the Benton, hjit. 
did no harm. Colonel jililct's wound and the injuries x^y 
the Queen of the West are the sum total of the casnaUlea 
on the national side. 

It is impossible to ascertain Avlth any certaintj' the losn 
of the enern}' in killed, wounded and missing, thon_:;']i it 
must have been quite hoavj. Their guns w^ere nearly all 
exposed to the hows and sterns of their boats, and after tin; 
opposing forces came into close quarters our sharpshooters 
picked off their gunners as fast as they showed themselves. 
It is thought that from twenty-live to lilty perished ■\\dien 
the General Lovell went down. 

IJIPOllTAXCE OF OUPw VICTOr.Y. 

The victory just won not only gives us Memphis, but 
the Mississippi river. (3ur up-pcr and lovv^er ilects will soon 
join each other, for if Fiag-OUiccr Farragut cannot teach 
the braggart Mississippians how to surrender, I am sure 
Flag-Othcer Davis can. Commodore llollins is said to he 
below us with four boats, but ho cannot escape, except by 
burning his ileet and taking to the woods. The old gascon 
will never tell in another Southern bar-room hovv' Ik-^ 
''peppered" us again. This victory about finishes up the 
war in the South-west. It cuts what your contemporary, 
the Commercial, would probaldy call the "umbilical cord"' 
of the bogus Confederacy, and eHectnally separates th.-- 
Eiist from the AVcst. llow the rebel leaders are to sur- 
vive the blow is past my comprehension. The altcmf-t 
to establish a slave oligarchy in this free land has proven! 
a most wretched ahortion. 

In addition to being one of the most decisive and 
important victories of the war, the batt'c of Merripliis 
is also the most brilliant. Indeed, it is quite safe to say 
that it is the most brilliant engagement on record. It 
lasted precisely an liour and three minutes, the rel>elj» 
having tired the first shot at 5:40, and the Nationals tho 
last at C:43. Uow little tho victory cost us, and how 



HISTOlit OF THB 



dearly the rebels paid for the defeat ! How noblj does 
our gallant navy maiutaiu its well earned reputation ! 
What heavy blows"- has it dealt the rebellion from Hatteras 
to Memphis! All honor to our brave tars! 



Tllir DOW:s" THE MISSISSIPPI. 

<:AMr' AT LAKE niOVIDENCE -— VISTA PLANTATION — YOUNg's 

I'OINT CANAL GRAND GULF PORT GIBSON RAYMOND — 

JACKSON— ■ CHAMPION HILLS — BLACK RIVER — 'VICKSBURG. 

Tlic regiment left camp at Memphis tlie evening of Feb- 
j-uary 20, and embarked on the Edward Walsh in company 
\vitii the Thirtieth Illinois. The Paymaster was engaged 
in paying the regiment "wheu the oi>Ier came to mai'ch to 
the ))oat. He accompanied the regiment to the boat and 
linislied his work on board. 

The troops remained aboard until the morning of the 
22d, before the boat left the landing. All the Division 
was loaded by Sabbath morning, and left about 8 o'clock, 
tiie steamer Continental nuiking the start, then followed the 
John Dickey, Platte Valley, Louisiana, Edward Walsh, 
David Tatum, Hilary Forsythe and others, in all eleven 
boats, the ilag-boat Superior bringing up the rear. The 
trip was unpleasant on account of the cold, rainy weather. 
While lying at the wharf many of the boys in some way 
eluded the vigilance of the guards, and went oft" up town, 
determined to have a farewell spree before going down tho 
Mississippi. Although spirits were freely imbibed, yet very 
few cases of drnnkenness occurred on board. 

After a ride of twenty-six hours we landed at Providence, 
a distance of three liundred and twenty-five miles from 
Memphis, We encamped in a cotton field, ou the south 



224 HISTORY OF THE 

bank of Lake Providence, about one and a-half miles froni 
the ^lississippi river, wliich is plainly in view, being mueh 
higher tlian the lake and surrounding country, Altliough 
it is February, the peaeii trees are in bloom, and but little 
lire is needed. The contrast between the climate here and 
at Memphis is great. 

Lake Providence, about vvdiich there is so much talk, is 
about one quarter of a mile from the town, and is said to 
be seven miles in length. There are about live hundred 
negroes digging a canal from the lake to the river; the 
object being to turn the waters of the Mississippi into the 
lake, so that our boats can cross the Ped river, cut off tho 
rebel supplies from Texas, and ilank the batteries of A^icks- 
burg. The course is from the lake into Bayou Tcnt-as, 
thence into Bayou Mason, thence into Black and lu'd 
rivers, and then down into the Mississippi again. Tlu; 
Avork is progressing rapidl}', and is now nearly half done. 
Negroes are also at work clearing the timber from the 
Bayous. The lake is about twelve feet lower than the 
river. Yicksburg is se\enty miles down the river, and 
forty by land. 

Up to March 9th, nothing of interest has transpired ; 
everything has been quiet except tbe occasional appearance 
of a few guerrillas in our iront. iSince our arrival here, 
the regiment has had much heavy duty. The woik on the 
canal has been going on undisturbed until the 8th, wlicii 
operations had to be suspended, in consequence of the water 
in the bayou rising and flowing towards the river. It is 
supposed to be the work of rebels Avho liave con- 
structed a dam some twelve miles below. Sixteen regi- 
ments and a section of artillery were sent down to look 
after them. Guerrillas arc said to be swarming tho 
country in great numbers, but as yet have done little 
damage. It is reported they have routed Qnimby's Di\ ision 
wliich was encamped about twenty miles from this place ; 
the rebels cut the levee above them and let tho water eo 
spread as to prevent their finding suitable camping ground*. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. i. 225 

Lake Providence was, for the first timie, honorecT last 
week by the launching of a steam craft into its waters. 
She is intended to ply up and down the lake, and assist in 
the work of the canal. Flatboats are alsa being built for 
the same purpose. It is hoped that biefore long we may bo 
permitted to take passage on the boat& when going to work 
on the canal and bayou, instead of having to foot it eight 
or ten miles per day. I believe the work upon the canal 
will result in a grand failure. 

We have been visited while here by some very severe 
storms, hail coming down a» large as marbles, and the rain. 
in torrents. Sprinkling is unknown in this country ; when 
it comes, it falls in sheets of water. Since our arrival here 
the Government has been extensively engaged in the cotton 
business. Every day teaniis are- engaged in bringing in 
(jonfiscatcd cotton, and new discove-ries are being made of 
cotton hid in swamps. In a canebrake near where our men 
are at work two hundred and fifty bales weix) found. The 
negroes are also at work picking the cotton. On the plan- 
tation where our troops arc encamped, one field of cotton is 
fifteen hundred acres in extent. The men amuse them- 
selves by playing ball and sailing- on the lake. 

The following letters written by Captain A. A. Adair 
give a full history of the regiment at this place : ,t'. 

Camp on the Mississippi TIiver, } 
Xear Providence, La., March 19, 18G3*, j" 

A\"e are still in the land of the living with heat and galli- 
nippers plenty. ;-^g 

On Saturday -last orders were received to have thrco days'" 
rations in haversacks, and be ready to go aboainl, the trans- 
ports, ( which were lying in wait for us, ) the next morningt 
Accordingly, rations wero drawn, cooked and put in our 
haversacks ; details were made to load the boats and every- 
thing was taken down and packed up ; fully expecting toi 
be on our way for the Yazoo Pass, ( which was currently 
reported to be our deatiuation,) by daylight next moruing:* 

15 



22G niSTORY OF tub 

As is generally the case "whenever we go to move, it coin- 
mencecl raining, and continned until we got on the boat, 
which was about 3 o'clock, P. ]SI. when it commenced clear- 
ing up. Being so regular I suppose it must be military. 

Everything had been loaded and we w-ere all on our 
respective boats, which had been assigned us, before dark, 
and -were waiting for the time to roll around when aw 
would put out. Most of the boats were occupied by two 
regiments; but one boat, (the Gladiator,) only had the 
''Brigade headquarters,'"' and the Sevonty-Eightli on board, 
making it much more comfortable for us than when comiug 
down from Memphis. One regiment of our Brigade, the 
Thirtieth lUiniois, Avas compelled to rcmahi behind, there 
being no transportation for it at that time; but it was to fol- 
low as soon as possible. On our going to the boat the Thir- 
tieth was in line, and gave us parting salutes and cheers as 
we passed bv, thus showhui: the srood feelini!- that existed 
between them and the Seventy-Eighth. 

AVhile thus situated a boat arrived from the fleet below, 
countermanding the movements we had in prospect, and 
compelling us to remain where "\to 'ifere, and await further 
orders. Of course every one Avas wondering what was up, 
and it was soon reported the rebels were evacuating Yicks- 
burg and going to reinforce Johnston to operate against 
Jiosecrans, which appeared to gain considerable credence; 
' but whether it is so or not, I cannot say. 

Xext morning, however, the boat returned to the fleet to 
see what AN'as to be done, and iu the meantime we avl'^c 
making ourselves as comfortable as we could. AVhenever 
we are put on boats a guard i« always placed so as to keep 
the men on, but as the boat was lyibg close to the shore thw 
boys would jump off despite all the guards could do. In 
cases of that kind guards are not overly attentive, and do 
not care whether the boys get ofl:" or not- 

On the evening of the IGth, and while we were lying at 
the lauding awaiting orders, the levee was cut and tlie water 
of the raging Mississippi was turned into Lake Providence. 



SEVEXTY-EIGIITH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 227 

When it Avas kiioxNii it was the intonlion to <lo so, a lot of 
the boys volunteered, and it was but a short time lieforo 
the water made its appearance on the other side, all beinu^ 
anxious to see it done before we left. Two trenches Avei'e 
dug about thirty feet apart, leaving the water to wasii out 
the space between. And against morning all was clear, 
and the water gushing through at a furious rate, putting 
one in mind of the dams in the Muskingum in time oi" high 
Avater. By this time, 1 expert some of tlie okl secesh l)ack 
in the country are wondering what's «p,' and are beginning 
to skedaddle, 

AVe liad remained on tins boat all thatda}'^, and until about 
ten oV'loclc the next, when orders came for ns to go into 
cam]> al»ove ProNidence, keeping all the Division together. 
The Gladiator having the least on, and being already fired 
up, General Logan went aboard and had her cruise along 
?![) the shore until a suitalde camping ground could be 
found, the other boats iollowing shortly after. All was 
unloaded, our new camp cleaned oft", and tlie tents up before 
dark. We are now al,>out live utiles above Providence, in a 
<-oru field, and but a short distance from the river, affording 
us a good view of all the boats passing up and dowu. 

lUimors are pu'evalent that our Division Avill go to rein- 
force Tiosecrans, should it prove true that the rebels are 
reinforcing Jolmston from A^icksburg. And Vv'c are all 
anxious tlsat it may be so, for we are getting tired of tfiis 
country ; it is a little too hot for comfort, and then the 
gallinippersi Oli I dear, they are enough to torment any 
one to death. They are beginning to let us know they arc 
about, by huy.z'mg around and occasionally taking a fellow 
a dip along side the lug, and of course always leaving their 
liuu'k. They arc a different and much larger species than 
you Inive in the North. 

The Yazoo Pass was undoubtedly the place we were des- 
tined for, and there has certainly sometliing of importance 
turned up which prevented our going, but I do not believe 
we will remain here long. I think we will either go back 



228 HISTORY OF THE 

to Tennessee, or go down in front of Yicksbnrg. I hop© 
it will be the former, for then we will stand a chance of 
coming in contact with Ohio regiments in which there are 
companies from old ^Morgan. 

In this camp Ave are not at a loss for water, as we can dig 
down only three feet and get a snpply of good, clear water, 
right at home. Kails are also plenty, making first rate fire 
wood. 

Camp ox Yista Plantation, March 29,1863. 

Mr. Editor: — On the 22d inst. our Erigade (Avhicli is-: 
called the "Flying Brigade"' by General Logan) received 
marching orders to go aboard the boats immediatel}', having 
three days' rations in onr haversacks. All were conjectur- 
ing as to onr destination, some saying we were going up the 
river and others down. 

But it soon became known which route we were to take. 
As is usual, it commenced to rain before we got on the 
boats, making it very unpleasant as well as disagreeable for 
us, for the hurricane deck is always the most desirable place 
on the boat in good weather. The Seventy-Eighth (of 
course) was the last regiment en board; seven companic3 
going on the Gladiator, with the Brigade headquarters, 
while the other three, with the artillery, went on the latai'^ 
the Twentieth and Sixty-Eighth on the Louisiana, and the 
Thirtieth Illinois on the Fanny Ogden. 

Darkness was upon us l)eforc we got started, and most of 
us were wrapped in nature's sleep, not knowing which way 
we were g^>iug until a little after daylight, when it was 
found we were making a landing at Eagle Bend, twenty 
miles above Yicksburg, on the Mississippi side. It was 
soon ascertained that the object of our mission was to rein- 
force General Sherman, who had started from that point a 
few days before to make his way across to the Yazoo river 
to operate in the rear of Yicksburg. Should he need rein- 
forcements we were to be there in readiness for him. 

We remained on the boats until the morning of the 25th, 
when we went into camp about a mile back of the liver. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 229 

sending the sick and everything pertaining to our camp 
equipage back to our old camp, taking nothing witli us but 
our knapsacks, dog-tents, camp kettles, and a few mess pans. 
The roads •vverc utterly impassable for teams, not even a 
horse being able to get along, and consequently the artiltery 
was sent back also. iShould we be needed it was said we 
would have hard times irettin^ along, and it was best not to 
take anything but what would be really necessar}'. 

Xo troops were at this point except a few " pioneers," 
who were building up the road, A stream of water came 
in here from the river, forming a bayou, upon which were 
rsteam tugs plying to and fro, assisting General Sherman in 
liis undertaking. AV'e expected to remain there two or 
three days, and commenced building houses out of a sort 
of willow ; Init orders came that niglit for us to return to 
<>ur Division again. The Thirtieth Illinois started back 
about midnight, there being no transportation for the other 
regiments at that time, we having to wait until the boats 
could come down after us. 

Before leaving we heard that Sherman's forces were com- 
ing back again, being unable to accomplish their purpose. 
It was reported that the rebels were felling timber into the 
bayou faster tlian he could take it out; and whik^ doing so 
lie took five hundred prisoners, coming upon them una- 
wares, ca[»turing arms and equiiiments. A\^hether these 
reports are true, I am unable to say. 

The next morning everything was packed up earlv, 
■expecting to get orders to go at any time, but we had to 
remain until 3 o'clock before our boats arrived, when we 
skedaddled to the river and were off in a little wliile, the 
Seventy-Eighth being aboard the Fanny Ogden, and the 
Twentieth and Sixty-Eighth on the Gladiator, getting back 
to our old camp on "Vista Plantation," near Perry's Land- 
ing, and about five miles above Lake Providence, about 
<lark. 

Our things, when they were sent back, were piled up and 
no care taken of them at all, and when we came into camp 



2o0 niSTOKY OF THE 

fill v*-ere anxions to get tbeir things and put np the tents; 
but in hunting aroHnd they accidentally fell upon a lot of 
sanitary stores that were unguarded, and tliinking they 
were sutler goods waded in and demolished the contents, 
whieli consisted of spirits, drawers, potatoes, tish, liquors, 
etc. Consequently, the next morning a search was made, 
and tho^e found having any of the articles were taken u[]> 
to headfpuirtej-j^ and put under arrest. It seems hard that 
the boys have got to suffer for the negligence of tlic officers ; 
but they might as well cat up such things as to leave them 
for the otRcers, for there is generally where such things go. 
While we were gone, all our bedding was carried off by 
other regiments, and a cotton gin and some other Iniiklings 
being bandy, the next morning the boy^ determined to have 
s(.)me boards to sleep on, and commenced to break for the 
scene of operations, delegations being on hand from the 
three Ohio regiments (the Thirtieth Illinois being sii[)plie(l 
before we came,) and it was not long before the boards and 
shingk\s began to tly thick and fast, and persons were com- 
ing back with arm loads. AVhile this was going on some 
person slipped into the gin and set it on fire, which soon 
reduced it to ashes. This brought out General Logan, who 
cjmnu'uced pouring out his wrath on the '•'Flying Bi-igade," 
and it was not long before orders Avere issued compelling 
all who had got shingles and boards at these, buildings to 
take them up to our regimental heatlquarters. Company 
E was well represented, myself l)eiug one of the nun\ber, 
tor we are never slow in such undertakings. That being 
done, each had to give in his name, when we were all 
sent up to Logan's headquarters, taking our boards ami 
shingles with us, whooping and yelling like mad. But we 
had hardly got up there when we were ordered to pile 
them up separately, ^iind go to our quarters ; but shortly 
fttter we were told to go up and get our lumber, when lo I it 
was found that the boards were measured, the shingles 
cx)unted, and each man's pile taken account of. There was 
it good deal of sport made of it, and every company had to 
share it. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 231 

Since tlieii General Logan ordered General Leggett to 
assess the amount of jjroperty destroyed, and tax the 
ofHcers and men of bis Brigade with it, and have it put 
upon the next muster rolls, so it can be deducted from their 
pay, but to exempt all regiments whom he knew not to be 
guilty. Accordingly the assessment was made, which was 
])ut at $2,000, and is to come off the three Ohio regiments, 
the Suckers all being exempt. 

It is now the principal gossip of the regiments, and if they 
are to pay for the destruction of property done by some 
unknown person, it will be apt to raise a "muss," and cause 
them to destroy much more than they otherwise would 
have done ; and it is believed by most of those who were 
tliere at the time, that it w^as burned by the old seccsh 
liiniself, for he was there and was heard to say, when they 
commenced tearing down the old gin, "that the boards on 
tliat building wouldn't do them much good," and imme- 
diately started towards it ; and in fifteen minutes time it was 
in flames. I mention this just for the purpose of showing 
what injustice is practised upon the soldiers in the army. 
The leaders can order the levee to be cut and millions of 
property may l)c destroyed by it, but if any property is 
l)urned, and it can be traced to the soldiers, they have got 
to pay for it, and the proceeds pocketed by some one just 
lionest enough to keep it. Such doings as that won't win, 
and it is time it was stopped. If all rebel property w\as 
destroyed as soon as we came to it, this w^ar would be ended 
much sooner than it will be the w^ay things arc carried on 
now. 

The Ohio boys of the Second Brigade are always able to 
" hold their ow^n," and tlic title of "jayhaw^kers" has been 
given them by General Logan, who says he believes if they 
were put in front of Yicksburg they would have it torn 
down and be sleeping over it in less than three days. 

Since I last w^rote you the weather has undergone quite a 
change. Last night a regular old "nor'-wester" came 
upon us, preceded by rain, which knocked the tents in 



23^ HISTORY OF THE 

every direction, and had the boys up at work with hatchets 
and axes, staking down their houses for fear of having them 
carried away. The otRcers' quarters of Company E were 
among the nnfortunate. 

Boats continue to pass here daily loaded with soldiers, 
going both up and down the river. "VVe had reports yester- 
day that a part of Logan's Division Avas to leave to-day for 
some point np the river ; if it is so it will not likely be the 
*' Flying Brigade " this time. We are in perfect ignorance 
4is to what is going on, for we are unable to get any news 
Jit all, and our lettei-s are generally about two weeks old 
before we get them. Yours truly, Typo. 

The Lake Providence expedition being abandoned, an 
effort was made to gain the rear of Vicksburg by the Yazoo 
Pass, which also failed, after almost incredible labor and 
hardships. Many boats in attempting this were seriously 
damaged, and were compelled to go jS^orth for repairs. The 
rebels defeated the success of the expedition by felling 
timber in the main channel ; Avhicli obstructions our forces 
removed in part, but finding it impracticable abandoned the 
effort and all the troops returned to Sherman's Landing, 
but nothing disheartened. 

Sherman's great canal, intending to change the channel 
of the Mississippi river, also proved a failure. The only 
way left to gain the rear of Vicksburg was to run the block- 
ade with a sufiicient number of boats to supply and transport 
the army across the river below Grand Gulf. General 
Logan's Division was called upon to furnish volunteers to 
attempt the hazardous undertaking. The following men 
volunteered from the Seventy-Eighth Ohio : Captain Hugh 
Dunne, second in command of steamer J. W. Cheeseman ; 
Sergeant James McLaughlin, Company D, engineer on 
Empire City ; Corporal Henry Baugus, Company B ; 
Henry H. Smith, Company F; Alexander "White, Company 
F; Burke Clark, Company D; Abel Arter, Company D; 
Daniel Christmau, Company E. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 233 

Six boats were put in readiness, and about midnight, 
started. The first passed part of the batteries before the 
rebels got aroused ; soon the batteries opened, and one 
hundred and eighty i^ieees of heavy artillery, which lined 
the shore for about seven miles in extent, broke forth in the 
most awful grandeur, which lit up the heavens and seemed 
to shake the very pillars of the universe. Xothing but the 
interposition of a prospering I'rovidence saved the boats, 
which were all more or less injured, in successfully })assing 
the batteries. 

The whole army, then fifty-five tliousand strong, set out 
upon its march to Bruinburg, Ijclow Grand Gulf, where it 
crossed the river, fought hve successive battles, and drove 
an enemy outnumbering the Union army, into the walls of 
Alckslmrg. 

The following letters were written by Surgeon Keeves 
and the author, which give a correct history of the 
regiment and its operations : 

The gallant army under General Grant lias just obtained 
a glorious victory — a victory which fully justifies the confi- 
fidence their commander seems to have felt when lie entered 
upon the daring campaign to Yicksburg by tlie way of 
Grand Gulf and Jackson. 

Yesterday morning the position of our army was briefly 
this: I'art of Sherman's Gorps occupied Jackson — the 
particulars of the capture of tliat town you have already 
learned. The larger part of McPherson's Corps lay at the 
same place. McClernand's was two miles south of Bolton, 
and sixteen miles west of Jackson, while Hansom's Brigade 
of Mc Arthur's Division, (McPherson's Corps) and Blair's 
Division of Sherman's Corps were approaching liaymond 
on their march from Grand Gulf. The little town of Eay- 
mond lies eight miles south of Bolton, and about twenty 
south-west from Jackson. 

The enemy had massed his forces at Edward's Station, 
nineteen miles east of Vicksburg on the railroad, with tho 
intent to cut our long lines somewhere between liaymond 



234 HISTORY OF THE 

nnd Bolton, and thus at once deprive ns of supplies and 
l>cat us in detail. Uut bis designs were discovered and 
splendidly defeated. 

Yesterday morning news came to General ^Slcd'ernand 
that the enemy were advancing on him from the north-west 
ill the maimer just indicated, and ho immediately ordered 
(Jeneral A.. L. Lee, who had that moment arrived and 
reported for duty in the Thirteenth Army Cbrps, to recon^ 
noiter the approach. With a squad of cavalry General Lee 
galloped off live or six miles toward Edward's Station, 
scoured the country to and fro, discovered the enemy's 
pickets in that direction, and returned with a map of the 
ground over which the battle was next day to be fought. 

In the meantime General McPherson's command moved 
rapidly down from Jackson and arrived toward niglitfall 
near l>olton, while Eansom's Brigade and r)lair's Division 
reached Itaymond. Thus our widely extended front was 
(Suddenly closed on the center, in such a way as to be ready 
for either attack or defense. At the same time General 
ShermaU: moved from Jackson north of the railroad toward 
Edward's Station, in such course as to keep within su}>port- 
ing distance, and to prevent the rebel force under Joe 
Johnston (driven northward out of Jackson) from making 
'4 junction with their tViends at Edward's Station. 

At daylight this morning our movement toward 
Edward's. Station began. Ilovey's Division of McClernand's 
Corps, followed by ^IcPherson on the right, and advancing 
on the road from Bolton ; Osterhaus' Division, followed by 
General Carr's, on tlie center; and Smith's l)ivision, with 
General Blair's as a reserve, on the left, by the first road 
from Kaymond to Eil ward's Station. 

The battle opened on the left about 8 o'clock, with 
artillery directed on Smith's advance. It seemed that the rebels 
were attempting to turn our left, and get in our rear in the 
direction of Raymond. But Smith held his road firmly, 
and the enemy slowly retired, while we slowly advanced. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 235 

The enem}' next massed liis forces on our riglit center, 
where Ilovey's Division was coming up, and here the battle 
began to rage in deadly earnest. For a time the result 
seemed doubtful ; the rebels pressed on in the most deter- 
mined manner, while Ilovey's brave boys returned their 
attacks with the most persistent valor. For a moment we 
gave back at that point, but llovey, being reinforced by 
two Brigades of Crocker's Division, the enemy were driven, 
and the day Avent in our favor, A portion of the rebel 
force began tlieir retreat by the Yicksburg road. 
Mcl'hersoii swung around his right, and cut otf and cap- 
lured about fifteen hundred prisoners, and a battery of ten 
guns. Our left, McUleriiaud's Corps and Blair's Division, 
and Hansom's Brigade now pressed forward, and the com- 
]ileto defeat and demoralization of the enemy was assured. 
Our artillery was hastened forward from point to point, 
over the numberless hills of this most rugged country, and 
]>oured its deadly tire into the flying columns of the rebels. 
At sunset, as wo entered Edward's Station, we found 
there a great debris of stores abandoned by the enemy in 
his flight — among them a train of cars loaded with amnni- 
iiition and set on fire, and a depot of provisions also partly 
consumed. A\^e manao:ed to save Irom these ninety 
thousand rounds of musket ammunition, a, h^rge quantity of 
fixed ammunition for field pieces, and agood supply of sugar. 

Our captures in this splendid tight foot up to about two 
thousand eight hundred prisoners, nineteen guns, and about 
ten thousand serviceable Enfield rifles, together wtih all tliy 
stores I have mentioned. 

THE BATTLE OP THE BIG BLACK. 

At the Bridge, May 17. — At daylight this morning our 
victorious army moved on from Edward's Station, by the 
main road to the Big J31ack, McClernaud's Corps in the 
advance, led by Carr's Division. It was known that the 
rebels had constructed earthworks to defend the bridge, 
and that these works must be taken. The distance waa 
but three miles, and we had hardly advanced one before 



236 HISTORY OF THE 

the skirmishing in front commenced. The enemy slowly 
retired, and we pressed on until we reached a point about 
one mile from the river, when the rebel batteries, some 
eighteen guns, opened on us. They had a good range of 
the road, and the shells flew and burst about us in lively 
style. 

Carr immediately formed in line of battle and advanced 
on the center and right, with half of Osterhaus' Division 
on the extreme right and half on the left. Smith's Division 
came rapidly up and formed on the extreme left. 

The action had hardly began when the gallant Osterhaus 
was slightly wounded, wdiile busy in getting the First Wis- 
consin Battery in position on the left center. Captain 
Foster, commanding the battery, was at the same time 
liurt — a case shot bursting among the part}^, and both were 
obliged to leave the field. General McClernand immedi- 
ately^ ordered General A. L. Lee to take command of the 
Xinth Division, and the battle began. It was soon termi- 
nated. After an artillery duel of an hour or so, varied 
with some sharp skirmishing, General Carr's Division, Avith 
the portion of Lee's which was on the right, made agalhmt 
charge upon a weak spot on the enemy's left, and took the 
w^orks. So suddenly and effectively vv^as this done that the 
whole of Bowen's Brigade was cut off and captured, while 
our left, advancing at the same time, took two regiments 
of rebels who were trying to escape down the swamp and 
across tlie river in that direction. Every gun in the works 
was taken — in all eighteen — and the number of prisoners 
amounted to about three thousaiid. The haste with whicli 
the surrender was made was something ludicrous. The 
moment our charge began on the right fifty white flags 
appeared behind the works, extemporised by hoisting 
bunches of cotton on the end of bayonets. Alas I that the 
regal fiber should fulfill so meek a mission! We immedi^ 
ately advanced up to the captured works, and, planting a 
section of heavy guns near the river, began to shell the 
rebels who had got across it, and had burned the bridge 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 237 

which took them over, as well as set fire to the immense 
railroad bridge and trestle work. 

The enemy left a regiment of sharpshooters on the west 
bank of the river to annoy us and delay our crossing, but 
General Lee, with a pioneer corps and a company of skir- 
mishers, protected by the lire of Lamphear's Seventh 
^lichigan Battery, reconnoitered the bank, and commenced 
the construction of a floating bridge. At 9 o'clock 
to-morrow it will be completed, and wo shall move for- 
ward. 

Meantime Sherman's Corps is crossing on pontoons 
above, and will go to Yicksburg by the upper road toward 
Haines' Bluff, while McClernand and McPherson will move 
on the Jackson road. 

Our losses in the battle of yesterday were heavy — prob- 
ably three hundred killed, and the usual sad proportion of 
wounded. rend)erton was in command of the rebel force. 
Major General Tilghman was killed. In the battle to-day 
our losses were but slight — our captures immoderately 
large. 

Three Miles in rear of Vicksrurg, 1 
May 20, 1863. / 

On the ISth our army crossed the Big Black and marched 
on Yicksburg, Sherman coming in and taking possession 
of Haines' Bluif, McPherson arriving on the Jackson road, 
and McClernand advancing toward the close of his march 
on the road to Baldwin's Ferry. 

Yesterday morning General Grant began to "move upon 
the enemy's works," — a line of redoubts extending from 
the rear of Haines Bluff to the Warrcnton road, a distance 
of eight or ten miles. 

The attack was made with Sherman on the richt, 
McPherson extended from his left to the railroad, and 
McClernand from his left on the railroad to the extreme 
left. At daylight our troops moved up, but tlic action did 
uot begin until about noon, save an occasional shot from 
our artillery as it came within range. 



238 nisTOKY OF the 

After a slow fire from our artillery had failed to elicit any 
reply from tlie rebel works, our lines slowly advanced until 
at every point they were in front hardly one thousand yards 
from the redoubts. The ground over which we crossed in 
this movement wa* singularly rough, a series of hills and 
hollows, not high but steep. As we neared the hostile 
redoubts we found that they commanded every crest and 
svrept every ravine. Yet at 2 'o'clock a general charge was 
ordered. 

About the same success — or want of success — attended 
the charge ?don^ the whole line. W"o have up to this time 
advanced so close to the enemy's works that he cannot 
safely use his guns, and our heavier artillery is being pushed 
up and planted in such a way that I trust to-morrow will 
see some good results. Conmiunication is open to the 
Yazoo by way of Haines' Blun, and supplies now come to 
us from the upper river. 

As I write, the slow and sullen booming of the gnnbonts 
both above and below, show that they too are joining i'.i 
the great light. The situation grows dranuitic and solemn, 
and the end is near at hand. 

In rear of Vicksburo, May 21. 
The stronghold of the rebel power on the MississipjM is 
now completely invested by the army of General Grant. 
The fragments of the insurgent forces which escaped from 
the victories of Tort Hudson, of Jackson, of Gham])ion or 
]Midway Hills, and of Big Black, have retired within the 
strong but small circle of defenses which surround the city, 
at a distance of about two miles from the heart. Tliero 
a stubborn resistance is now being made, the redoubts and 
rille-pits giving the rebels an advantage in the way of safety, 
but none, I think, in the way of moral strength. i*i'e- 
sumptively the advantage is with the attacking party, and 
especially in this case, where our army, since its bold move 
from Young's I'oint, by tne way of Grand Gulf, ha»s been 
■uniforndy and brilliantly successful. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 23i> 

To-.(ln.y our forces are busy from right to left, over tlia 
entire line, in creeping more closely to the formidable 
Avorks of the enemy. At several jioints our sharpshooter? 
are so near the redoubts, and so veil sheltered by the 
remarkably roug-li ground, that tliey totally prevent the 
enemy from uBing liis guns. Tliey are near enongh too, U) 
iruUilge in jocose conversation with the rebels in their ritle- 

At the same time our lieavier artillery is Ijeing pushe<l 
up slovly in such a vay as to Ijear ettectually on the 
enemy's works. The ground is such that the hills occupied 
by us are just about as convenient and -commanding as^ 
those occupied by them. AVhat works they have within 
the line we are now attacking, is not certainly k\u wn, 
])ut they cannot 1)C extensive, for their [)rcsent line is (piite 
near the city. If the rebels retire from their present 
position', they subject the city to destruction. 

Below and above A'icksliurg our mortar fleet isgi'umbling 
ami thundering, very slowly but steadily, and we can see 
the laigc shells bursting over the town. A warm place to 
live in now. 

I.\ Hear of YiCKseurg, ]\Iay 22. 

To-day a general charge upon the enemy's works was 
ordered and made, though I cannot yet learn that at any 
]»oint the works were conipletel_y carried. The singularly 
rough nature of the ground makes it almost impossible to 
tell what we have to encounter, and rapidly fatigues the 
men. lint Ave advance in this way steadily, and at each 
charge our sharpshooters obtain a better position for their 
operations. Our artillery hastens to get better position, 
small intrenchments being thrown up to protect it; and 
thus we have the curious spectacle of liostile redoubts 
already frowning upon each other, at a distance of but u 
few hundred yards. 

The guns of the rebels repl}' to our shelling but seldom. 
They are evidently husbanding their ammunitiou, for they 
can now get no further supply. Their redoubts are con- 



240 HISTORY OF THE 

striicted for field guns, and within tho last three weeks 
Grant has captured al)Out seventy of these. 

In the meantime we have a new base of supplies from 
the Yazoo, through which reinforcements, provisions, 
ammunition and heavy guns can be sent as rapidly as we 
})lease. 

The rebel force within Yicksburg cannot now be more 
than twenty thousand. Before the fight at Jackson, they 
may have had forty- five thousand, but part of that number 
we forced up northward toward Canton — say ten thousand. 
At the battle of Midway Hills, (or Champion Hills,) on tlie 
16th instant, their efi'cctive force was perhaps thirty-five 
thousand men. Of these at least ten thousand were killed, 
wounded or captured, or driven id escape iiG4:t,hward or 
southward, in such a way h,,s to prevent them frorilfeturning 
to Yicksburg. At the fight on Big Black, on the 17ih, 
we captured hfearly three thousand, and scattered many 
more in such a way. tliat they are more likely to have 
straggled home throug-lr-.the woods than to have reported 
for duty. ''. 

LATER. 

I have arrived at the Yazoo, near Chickasaw Bayou, 
after riding from the extreme left of our array. Of course 
rumors are plenty of the operations of to-day. One is tliat 
our mortars and gunboats have silenced two of the upper 
water batteries, aiul that vessels now pass Yicksburg with- 
out being fired on. Another is that in the attempted charge 
of to-day the Thirty-First Illinois got up to the enemy's 
works, and there found a stockade so high that they could 
not scale it, and so they stopped and lay down under it, 
unable to go further, yet protected from tho enemy's fire. 
At this moment a rebel redoubt on the left tried to get a 
raking fire on them, when our artillery, concentrating its 
shots upon the redoubt, suddenly battered it to silence, 
knocking one of its guns some thirty feet into the air. 



THE SIEGE OF VlCKSBrRG. 

THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH OHIO ENGAGED — CONDITION OF THS 
WOUNDED — 'INTERESTING SCENES AND INCIDENTS DURING 
THE SIEGE* 

BATTLE-riELD, IN REAR OF VlCESIJURG, ] 

June 1, 18(j;j. i" 
The regiment at present has gone witli others ou a scout 
after General Joe Johnston, who is reported to he gathcrini:^ 
It force in our rear, but up to Saturday they had seen 
nothing of him. He was not at the point reported to our 
men. Our forces, we understand, were pusliing on toward 
^'azoo City, to capture a small force of rebels reported 
tliere, and also to take their fleet of transports and storea 
at that phu'O. Wa look for the return of the reginient in a 
day or two. They are very anxious to meet Johnston't; 
force. 

iSTone of those vv'ounded of Company E have die(], but 
are getting aJoug v/eli, far beyond thi.) Surgeon's cx])0<'. 
tations. Jieisidvcr, AVeUer, llassell and Itussol!, arc still 
back in. the hospital at Champion Hills; they v--ill be 
brought to the hospital here in a few days. Xcarly all the 
wounded ami sick at Ivaymond and Champion lliils ha.ve 
l)een paroled by the rebel guerillas. They paroled souuj 
who died the same day. They paroled our imrsos waiting 
upon the seoesh wounded, and took some of tliom to 

Jackson as prisoners ; and when our forces had left in 
lb 



242 eisTOEY OF the 

pursuit of the enem^', the guerrillas captured the fe\r 
ambulances detailed to carry the rebel wounded to the 
liospital, and drove them off, leaving their own wounded 
lying upon the field of battle. I wonder if the generous 
sympathizers in the ISTorth will approve this act of humane 
generosity. 

I spent part of the day yesterday in our Division hos- 
pital. About three hundred wounded are there, all doing 
well under the skillful management of Surgeon lieeves, 
and others. Several of the Seventy-Eighth Ohio boys are 
there. A visit to one of these hospitals impresses us deeply 
with the sad effects of war, and tlie dread results of an 
engagement in battle. Every description of wounds are 
seen. The loss of limbs, to me, seems the greatest, and the 
most to be regretted. It is surprising to see how cheerful 
the wounded are. How patient, submissive and grateful. 
The scene impresses a bystander with the deepest feelings 
of sadness. 

The Adjutant of the Seventy-Eighth — 11. Abbott, of 
Zanesville- — I presume is dead. The last word from him 
was, he would not live many days. He was shot through 
the neck, also breaking his skull. ' ^ 

Our men ha'^e had a hard campaign ; for more than two 
weeks they made every day a full day's march, and fought 
a successful battle almost every day. They started with 
five days' rations, and lived upon it seventeen; of course 
the country had to suffer, especially the cellars,' smoke- 
houses and poultry yards. They also destroyed a sufficient 
quantity of provisions to supply our army for months. 

Matters about Vicksburg are in statu quo. The rebel 
army is still in holes, and dare not come out. The two- 
armies can converse with each other. All our artillery Is 
l)lanted within two hundred yard's of their forts. It is', 
reported by deserters that the citizens of Vicksburg pre-* 
seiited General Pemberton a petition to surrender ; but he' 
replied that they (the citizens) had abused him by circu-' 
lating lies upon him, and now he intended to hold Vicks- 



SEVEJ^TY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. L 243 

burg as long, as he had a live man. The. city is nearly all 
torn to pieces by our mortar fleet, and also our artillery iq. 
the rear. The women and children are in caves under the 
ground ; it is reported that many of them have been killed, 
It cannot be otherwise. 

All their mules and horses have been killed, and they are 
seen throwing them into the river every night, They 
attempted to drive many of them through oi]r lines, but 
our artillery opened upon them and killed them around the 
forts, and they dare not come out to bury them, 

General Grant, last Sabbath week, ordered all the 
women out of the city ; they did no^ avail themselves of 
this privilege ; they would gladly do it now, but Grant 
says they must now submit to their f;|,te, and help eat up 
the stores in the city. This seems hard but it is just, 
They are reaping the just retribution of their own works, 
It would not do for me to be General, my feelings would 
lead me to give them a place of safety. 

One morning last week the rebels asked a cessation of 
hostilities for two and a half hours. It was granted ; our 
men went up to the fortitications, and the rebels stood on 
top of the forts, when mutual conversation took place. 
Home of the rebels came over and drank coffee witli our 
men. Some said they would surrender the fort for a cup 
of coffee ; one took the names of sortie of the Seventy-: 
Eighth, and said, '* When you take us, which will be 
before long, I want to find you." One private in the 
Thirtieth Illinois, of our Brigade, met in the fort, his own 
father and brother, They had a plefisant interview : the 
father and brother did not wish to return, but asked per^ 
mission to remain as prisoi^ers. The officers of the 
Thirtieth sent them back, refusing to take prisorjers while 
a flag of truce was out. They said they would desert the 
first opportunity. 

Over six thousand prisoners have been sent Xorth; some 
go every day. A great many are deserting to our gunboats 
upon the river. It is almost impossiblo to desept to our sidq 



244 HISTORY OF THE 

on account of the sharpshooters on both sides. These 
sharpshooters are picking oit* a great number of men. "We 
are losing some fine officers in this way. Last week the 
Captains of both batteries of our Brigade fell before the 
concealed sharpshooters. Captain Rodgers, of McCalister's 
Ohio Battery was killed instantly on Friday morning. 
Captain DeGalyer, on Thursday evening, was mortally 
wounded. These were the most efficient officers of our 
l)ivision. 

How long this siege may continue I presume will depend 
upon the j)rovision stores of Vicksbm-g. Some deserters 
report that the soldiers say they will kill Pemborton if he 
does not surrender in u few days. It is to be hoped they 
will yield in a few days. We could take the forts b}' stonn, 
but it would be too great a sacrifice. We have got the 
animal caged, but dare not enter the cage. 

The health of our army is good. Its energy nnd Hie 
unsurpassed : its courage and determination desperate. 
The army with its present spirit could successfully meet 
three times its number. 

THE SEVEKTY-EIGUIII OUIO AT VICKcLUER -— FULL LIST 01" IKE 
CASUALTIES AS KEEOIITED BY SUEGECN EEEVES. 

In THE Field, Yickseurg, Mi^s., Field Hospital,^ 
Third Division, ISeventee^th Aemy Corps, ,- 

May20, 18G3. ' J 
James A. Adair : 

Dear i^ir — The Stirling events of the past month have hO 
nijiidly followed each other, and so slight have been the 
opportunities for writing, that I have been unable to make 
a report to you, such as I lelt it my duty to make. 

On the 25th of April we left Milliken's Bend, Loui>i;nm, 
as a part of the Seventeenth Army Corps, and nuirelieil 
over a military road which General Grant had caused to be 
made, passed through liichm.ond and along Eoundawiiy 
Bayou to Lake St. Josepli, around wliich we parsed, and 
reached l*erkin's Landing, on the Mississippi Eiver, on the 
2Hth. The next morning we continucdour march to Hard- 



SEVENTT-EIGHTn REQIMEXT 0. Y. V. L 245 

times Landing, where transports and gunboats awaited us, 
vhicli took us down the river about ten miles, and we 
debarked and stacked arms in Mississippi. From tliat 
point we took up our line of march along the Port ^Gibson 
road. The Seventy-Eighth was detailed to act as rear- 
guard to the column on that day, and was the last to come 
up for the bivouac at night. 

General Crocker's Division was in advance, and when in 
the vicinity of Magnolia Church, met the rebels, under 
Generals Bowen and Tracy, nearly five thousand strong, 
occupying a strong position, and with whom they became 
engaged, at 2 o'clock A. M., on May Isfc. The battle was 
fought vv-ith varying success by that Division, until 12 M., 
wlien General Logan's Division came up on the double- 
quick and. forced the rebels from their position, driving 
them back with great loss. On the next day we occupied 
Port Gibson. 

The country is broken, and presents a succession of ridges 
running in parallel but very tortuous lines, with deep 
ravines intervening, affording natural earthworks in great 
varietv. The rebels were routed, and retreated in the nisrht 
toward Jackson, burning the bridges over Bayou St. Pierre 
and several other streams. 

We loft Port Gibson on the 2d of May and marched 
toward Vicksburg, and found the country to grow better as 
we advanced. We came to Little Black river just after the 
enemy had crossed, too late to capture them. At this point 
the Second Brigade had the advance, and was shelled by a 
rebel battery, the shells bursting over and around the 
Seventy-Eighth fiercely for a short time, but fortunately 
without hurting any one. 

We then moved toward Clinton, on the railroad from 
J ackson to Vicksburg, when, within four miles of Raymond, 
we met the enemy, eight thousand strong. General Logan 
was in the advance, and a fierce battle ensued. They were 
again routed and fled toward Jackson. In this battle tlie 
Seventy-Eighth acted a prominent part and suffered loss. 



246 HISTORY or THE 

l*rivate Oliver Story, of Company F, was mortally woiindctl 
and lias since died ; Charles Mason, of Company D, shot 
through the shoulder severely; laaac Drum, Company E, 
Ivounded in the head slightly. 

iVe moved to Clinton and oectfpied the town, capturing 
a fjuantity of clothing and army stores, tearing up the rail- 
road, and crippling the rebels in various ways, and on the 
next day went toward Jackson and again met the enemy, 
who had taken position upon the grounds of a planter. 
The battle was short and decisive. The rebels were routed, 
leaving their killecl and wounded on the field. Two batte- 
ries Avere captured. Our troops immediately occupied 
Jackson, and stacked arms on the " sacred soil " of " King 
Jeff." So rapid had been our march, and so sharp our 
fighting, that the people, deluded by the misrepresentations 
of the lying press at Jackson, were completely surprise?], 
and they made a stampede that would put to blush a score 
of Bull Euns. At daylight next morning General Logan's 
Division was en route for Vieksburg. 

On the morning of the 16th of May, the advance of our 
column was checked by the enemy, who were drawn up in 
line of battle at Charopion Hills, four miles from Black 
Biver. Immediate preparations were made to meet them. 
The engagement commenced on the left, and it soon 
became a fierce conflict — Ilovey and Carr's Divisions being 
in the hottest of the fight. The roads at this point were 
numerous, all converging toward Black Biver Bridge, thus 
bringing our troops nearer to each other as we advanced. 
The battle soon involved the troops on the right of the 
road, and Logan's Division became engaged. At this time 
the Second Brigade, led on by General Leggett, participated 
in the fight, and I say with pride, that the Seventy-Eighth 
Begiment went into battle cool and determined, stood up 
under a heavy fire without flinching, and acquitted them- 
selves nobly. Far in advance of the line, they stood out 
in bold relief, and forced the enemy to fall back. 

For three hours the rebels maintained their position, 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH KEGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 247 

<Iuri ng' wliicli time there was one contifiuotis roar of 
artillery and musketry. A brilliant charge was then made 
upon a battery of nine guns, and it was taken ; then the 
rebel line began to waver, was broken and soon commenced a 
liasty retreat. They fled toward the bridge about which so 
much has been siud and written, and were crossing pell- 
mell as fast as possible, when night enshrouded the scene 
and quiet reigned. Ere morning dawned upon the hills, 
Carr's Division fell upon the retreating enemy and cap- 
tured between two and three thousand of them, and seven- 
teen pieces of artillery. 

During the engagement our hospital was located tempo- 
rarily in the woods at what was a suitable distance, but by 
a series of maneuvers batteries were planted upon the ridge 
near us, and as the wounded were not yet brought in, I had 
ample opportunity to witness the fight. Our troops were 
in the open field, while the rebels occupied the woods. A 
single gun from DeGalyers Battery was stationed on a pro- 
jecting knob, and was raking the enemy terribly. A bat- 
ter}^ of six guns was }>lanted just under the edge of the 
ridge, out of sight of the rebels, and which was intended to 
do special work. The Second Brigade was at this time in 
a depression in the field. Presently the rebels charged 
upon the solitary gun, swarming like bees about the edge 
of the woods, and going ra[tidly toward the gun. At that 
moment the battery opened and dropped its shells with 
great precision right among the rebels, sending living and 
dead in every direction — particularly iu the direction of the 
woods. The field was cleared, and the gun kept thunder- 
ing iiway. When the rebels retreated our Brigade followed. 

In riding over the ground next day, I came to where tlie 
charge was made upon the rebel battery. The road was 
strewed with dead horses and broken harness, and a few 
broken gun carriages. ]^ear by, six dead horses marked 
the spot where a single guu had been planted to deal death 
among our men. The gun was gone, but deep marks in 
the hard ground told of the fearful rebound it gave at each 



248 HISTORY OF THE 

dischargee. AVithiu ten feet of the spot on which the gun 
stood, nine graves ranged side In' side, disclosing the resting- 
place of those who fell heside it. 

Tlie battle was over, the enemy routed, and "On to 
VicksburgI" was the word. On we went, and by midnight 
were within four miles of the city. We now ocenpy the 
rear of the city, our lines extending from "Warrenton on the 
Mississippi to Haines' Bluff* on the Ya/oo river. 

On the morning of the 22d our guns were thundering, 
and each day the cannonading lias been going on. We 
have free Gominunication v.'ith Young's l^oint by way of 
IJaincs' Bluff, and with all below by way of Warrenton, 
and are receiving provisions and ammunition, in fact sup- 
I)lies of all kinds, by way of the Yazoo. Since coming to 
Vicksburg, the Second Brigade has been consta-ntly in the 
field, and the Seventy-Eighth Regiment has been close 
a[>on the trenches, shielcted by a ridge, waiting for their, 
time to come to "-go in."' 

There is no time for writing; I am in the midst of the 
wounded at the field hospital of the Third Bivision, and 
send this moi^e for the purpose of giving a list of the 
killed and wounded than for anything else. 

Our march from Milliken's Bend lias been triumphant 
and full of incidents, and I regrc-t exceedingly that I have 
not been permitted to })en a detailed account of it. 

At Thompson's Hill, Jackson, Ivaymond, Champion 
Hills, Black Ivivcr Bridge, and in all the skirmishes, wo 
have eompleteh' whipped and discomfited the rebels, and 
drove them before us like seared sheep. 

Herewith I send you a list of the killed and wounded of 
the Seventy-Eighth liegiment, in the battles of Baymond 
and Champion Hills: 

WOUXDI'lD 

At the battle of Baymond, May 12, 1863, and left in the 
hospital at Baymond : 

Corporal Simeon H. Cockins, Company A, arm fractured; 
private Solomon J. Donelson, A, fore-arm, buck shot; pri- 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 249 

vate Charles B. Mason, D, shoulder, severely. (This was 
ail accident, the wound being inflicted by his own gun.) 
J'rivate David Miller, D, head, severely; private Isaac 
J)runi, 1>, head, slight; private William C. Younger, I>, 
thigh, slight ; private Thomas llartsell, H, head, scalp 
Avoiiud ; Corporal Oliver iStory, F, abdomen, since died; 
George W. Kichardson, A, thigh, flesh wound. 

The following are the casualties at the battle of Champion 
Hills, May 10,1863: 

KILLED. 

Lewis Yoght, private. Company A ; Sergeant Abner 
Jvoach, I ; Sergeant — Stitte, C ; private Jno. .F. Mcintosh, 
I : private James Taylor, F ; private William McBurney, 
JI; private Enoch Gray, Iv. 

WOrNDED. 

Private David AVilson, Company A, head, severely; pri- 
vate Philander S. Castor, A, shoulder, severely ; private 
Samuel Jackson, A, head, slight ; Lieutenant Jas. Caldwell, 
A, abdomen, severely, since died; Adjutant 11. Abbott, A, 
liead, severely ; private Kandolph C. Austin, B, chest and 
left shoulder ; Sergeant Harrison C. Yarner, B, shoulder; 
])rivate Silas Eaton, B, fore arm fractured, resection; private 
<ieorge W. Lay, B, chest and back, severely; Sergeant 

Andrew McDaniels, thigh, flesh wound; private , C, 

fracture of both bones of the leg, amputated; private Jas. 
J ). Austin, 1), neck, severely ; private AVilliam Weller, E, 
conical ball through the elbow joint, exsection of the joint; 
private J. C. Russell, E, thigh, flesh wound; James Russell, 
K, abdomen, severely; Jacob Beisaker, E, shot through 
the knee joint,- amputation lower third of thigh ; Joseph 
Yankirk, F, fore arm, severely, exsection of elbow ; pri- 
vate Robert A. David, Company G, thigh, flesh wound ; 
]»rivate Joseph Rhinehart, hip, severely ; private George 
Kimball, Company II, leg, flesh wound; James Hudson, 
Company H, hip and abdomen, since died ; private Francis 
Scott, II, face, buck-shot ; Sergeant Daniel Raney, II, leg, 
flesh wound ; private George W. Steele, I, arm, spent ball ; 



250 HISTORY OP THE 

private Aaron Floyd, K, back, flesh wound ; private Samncl 
Giesy, K, hand; private George Luinbatus, K, hand frac- 
tured ; private John Greenbank, K, hand, slight ; private 
Hiram Eeed, K, thigh and arm ; private John Weir, A, 
face, (lower jaw) ; Corporal Andrew McPherson, E, neck ; 
Lieutenant Israel Robinson, D, hip, contusion ; private 
Lewis Rowley, G. 

We left Milliken's Bend without much transportation^ 
without a change of clothing, tents or cooking utensils, 
save perhaps a coti'ee-pot and ftying-pan, and have slept 
upon the ground with the bright stars twinkling above us ; 
and during tlie whole trip it has rained but twice to cause 
any discomfort. 

jNIay 23. — Yesterday the First Brigade of our Division 
charged the enemy's earthworks, but were ol)liged to fall 
back. For some time they stood in the face of a heavy 
fire, and the Brigade was badly cut up. Two hundred and 
nineteen men were brought in afid placed in tlie wards of 
the Division Hospital, many of them badly wounded. Tlie 
number killed has not been reported. 

Our Army Corps is in fine spirits at our prospect of a 
sure and speedy reduction of this rebel stronghold, and the 
opening of the Mississippi. 

The health of the regiment is good, and during the 
present month there has been but little complaint of ill 
health. Captain McCarty is commanding Company E, 
and is deservedly regarded with favor, for he is a good 
officer. Lieutenant Stewart is now in command of Com- 
pany K, and should receive a Captaincy, as he fully 
merits it. 

It is now a year and a half since I left home, and I 
liope, after we take Vicksburg, to visit home, and tell you 
of a thousand things I cannot get time to write. 

Eespectfullj Yours, 

James S. Reeves, 
Surgeon Seventy-Eighth Regiment, 0. Y. I. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 251 

SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 

On the 22(1 of May the whole rehel army commanded Ly 
Pemberton, was enclosed in a wall of steel. The Union 
army occupied a crescent line nine miles in extent, General 
Sherman on the right, General McPherson the center, 
General McClernand the left. On the 22d the whole lino 
charged the enemy's works. The writer stood upon an 
eminence with Captain Iloherts, one of the ofUccrs of the 
Signal Corps, where wc could distinctly see nearly all our 
line move forward to the charge. The tighting was terrible 
and deadl}^, but the works were so formidable that our 
men could not scale them after they had reached the l)asc; 
consequently the charge proved unsuccessful along the 
whole line. A skirmish line was immediately established 
within a few rods of the enemy's works, and ritle-pits 
constructed which kept the enemy down inside their works. 
Here our troops remained for a period of forty-four days, 
each day pouring a storm of lead and iron into the 
enemy's works and the cit}-. 

Many interesting incidents here occurred between the 
soldiers of both armies, which all this time were near 
enough to converse with each other. Many little dialogues 
took place, which would swell our chapter too large to 
narrate. 

At times they would agree to be civil to each other for 
a specified time, and throwing aside their deadly weapons, 
would meet each other between the lines for social chat, 
and frequently make a cup of coffee, exchange canteens, 
buttons and rings. 

The country in the immediate rear of Yicksburg is one 
interminable series of swells, sandy hills or mounds, dotted 
with lovely groves and elegant jilantations, mostly in tine 
cultivation. These mounds, almost straight up and down, 
and of a compact sandy soil, are furrowed and covered with 
corn. 

The hollows are deep and wide, with excellent cause- 
ways, bubbling springs and fragrant groves, and now 



'-?;'» 9 



HISTORY OF THE 



two filled witli Yankees. Xo troops of conseqiirncc arc 
visiljle till we get into the hollows, where, concealed from 
the enemy's view, arc the tents, eqnipage, etc., of a powerful 
army. 

The Second Brigade's camp was in one of these deep 
ra\'ines, near the Jackson road, which led to the White 
House and Fort llill, a half a mile distant. From the 
AVhitc Ilouse to the enemy's works called Fort Hill, Gen- 
eial Leggett had dug a ditch ten feet wide, and deep 
enough to shelter a horseman. This sap was run into the 
walls of Fort Hill, whicli was mined for the purpose of 
l)lowing up the Fort. This v.diole operation was under the 
superintendence of General Leggett. In his first efi'ort, he 
used twenty-live hundred ])Ounds of powder, whieli nuide 
y. large entrance in the fort. 

The Forty-Fifth Illinois regiment entered the gap, where 
(]uite a fight took place between them and the rebels. The 
tight was at close quarters, grasping each other's bayonets, - 
juid wresting the guns from each other's hands, pulling 
each other by the hair, etc., till both sides began to toss 
o\'cr shells and hand-grenades; this caused both sides to 
fall back from the gap. Both the Colonel and Major of the 
l<\>rty-Fiftii Illinois were killed; also about one hundred 
men were killed or wounded. 

duly 1st. — General Leggett completed another mine or 
sap into the fort, and placed one ton of powder under the 
AN'all. Wheji the match was applied the explosion was 
terrible, blowing out about about fifty feet in length, and 
burying rebels by the score, and throwing many high in 
the air. Eight of these were blown upon our side of the 
fort, three of whom were colored, and all were killed but 
two. One of the negroes was but little injured, and insists" 
that he was blown three miles in the air. General Logan 
had his wounds dressed and well cared for. 

General Joe Johnston had at this time taken possession 
of Jackson, Miss., and was marching toward Vicksburg to 
make an attack upon our rear, in order to relieve Pcmbertou 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 253 

nnd Ills st<arved garrison, wliicli were now reduced to the 
most scanty rations, consisting of mule meat and bean 
bread. General Sherman was ordered with part of the 
army in which was the Second Brigade, to march against 
Johnston. 

The evening of the 3d of July every preparation Avas 
made to give the rebel army and city a grand celebration on 
the 4th. Consequently every piece of artillery was sup- 
plied with one hundred and lifty rounds of ammunition ibr 
that purpose. 

GENERAL PEMBERTON SURRENJER8 IIlS ARMY AND THE CITY Tifi: 

CLOSING SCENES OF THE VICKSBURG SIEGE. 

July 1. — Affairs became desperate with the rebels, and 
one more effort was made to cut through our lines by con- 
ccnti'ating upon the left, but they were repulsed with heavy 
loss, and driven back to their places of shelter. 

(Ju tlic evening of the 8d a flag of truce came into our 
lines, l)rought by two ( Vnifederate officers. Tlie messengers 
were blindfolded, and remained waiting the return of Gcji- 
cral Smith, who liore disriatchcs from I'cmbovton to 
(ioneral. Grant. Their eyes were nnbandaged, and they 
talked freely witli the T^nion othcers. One said that irv»u 
enough liad been thrown into A'icksburg to stock 
u foundry, and build monuments for all the citizens and. 
soldiers that had fallen. AVhen General Smith returned, 
the officers were again blindfolded and conducted to a safe 
point, from which tliey could entei- their own lines. 

The character of the dispatches was as follows : "That 
the unnecessary effusion of blood might be prevented by 
the cessation of liostilities, daring which commissionens 
might be appointed to agree on terms for the surrender ot 
the city; also intimating that he could hold out for an 
indeiinite period." 

Gen.eral Grant rc[)iied In'iefly, saying that General 
Pemberton had it in his power to stop the effusion of blood, 
and the appointment of commissioners was unnecessary, nf^ 
th'o only stipulation he could acce[)t tvas an unconditional 



254 HISTORY OF THE 

surrender ; that tlie rebel garrison should be treated with 
the courtesy due prisoners of war. 

The messenger had not long been gone till he returned 
with a dispatch from Pemberton, asking a personal inter- 
view with Grant, which was promptly granted. At 3 I*. 
]M. the interview took place, about midway between the 
contending forces. General Grant came slowly and delib- 
erately to tlie place of rendezvous, smoking his cigar, and 
apparently the only unexcited person in the vast assemblage 
ot Federal soldiers, who dared for the first time to appear 
outside of their rifle-pits, Pem^rtdn first remarked that he 
liad been present wlien dittereut fortresses surrendered to 
the Federal arms in ^lexico; in these the enemy were grant- 
ed terms and conditions, and he thought his army as well 
entitled to favor as a foreign foe. 

General Grant proposed a private conversation, and both 
stepped aside. What passed between them can be known 
by its results. After a little more than one hour the terms 
were arranged, and the rebels surrendered. About thirty- 
two thousand rebels were paroled. 

At 10 A. M., July 4, General Leggctt had the honor of 
entering the city with his command, and placing the flag 
upon the Court House. Soon the city was full of soldiers 
from both armies, associating and chatting freely and with 
much good nature with each other. No unfriendly or 
malignant feeling was manifested on the part of any. 

The business portion of the city was plundered by the 
rebel soldiers, which, to the shame of rebel officers, was 
Ijlamed upon the Federal army, and made capital of to 
incite the people of the South to hatred of the Yankees. 

The total loss of the Federal army in the series of battles 
is as follows : 

Port Gibson, 130 killed, 118 wounded; Fourteen Mile 
Creek, 4 killed, 24 wounded; Paymond, G9 killed, 341 
wounded ; Jackson, 40 killed, 290 wounded ; Champion 
Hills, 421 killed, 1842 wounded, 189 missing ; Black Itiver, 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 255 

29 killed, 242 wounded, 2 missing; Yicksburg, 545 killed, 
3688 wounded, 803 missing. 

The Seventy-Eighth Ohio had only one killed at Yicks- 
burg, Lyons, of Company A, who was a young man of 
ex/3,ellent ^haraet(?r, and an efljcieut and faithful soldier. 



THE REGIMEXT AFTEtl THE SUKRilXDER OF 
VICKSBURG. 

CLTNTOX, MISS. — MONROEVILLE, LA. — tllE REGIMENT CONTESTS 
FOR A PRIZE FLAG DEATHS BY DISEASES — IT VETERAN- 
IZES — THE MERIDIAN EXPEDITION — HOME ON VETERAN 
FL'RLOUGU. 

The following letter bj' CaJ^tain A. A. Adair gives ft full 
liistory of the regiment on the Jackson expedition against 
(ieneral Johnston : 

Chaplain T. M. [Stevenson f 

Dear Sir : — Since we crossed the Mississippi We. have been 
on the go all the time ; doing up onr fighting, and at the 
same time making our regular marches, day after dnv, 
through thick and thin, being weary, foot-sore and hungry, 
yet W'C fell not by the way^side, because of the good work 
we were sent to help accomplish. And lo ! it is finished to a 
great extent. The great Western Gibraltar, Avhicli the 
rebels harped about so much, has fallen, with its seventeen 
Generals and thirty-one thousand prisoners, fifty thousand 
stand of arms, besides a large number of cannon ; and 
wluit maices it more glorious, it was surrendered on the 
4th of July, which will ever be remembered in ages to 
come. 

]!:s"ovvfor a short hi^^toryof the doings of the Seventy-Eighth 
liegiment since crossing the Mississippi, which we did on the 



SEVENTY-EIGnTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 257 

lat of May, the next day after the bombardment of Grand 
Gulf. After our Division had crossed, our regiment was left 
at the landing to load up the train with ammunition and 
rations, while they went on out to the battle of Thomp- 
son's Hill, which had commenced that morning. We came 
up with the train after dark, and found the battle over, 
being a great success on our side. The next da}'' we 
marched through Port Gibson, and were in pursuit of the 
beaten foe. They burned the bridg*e across the river in 
their retreat, and we were obliged to take a roundabout 
course iu pursuing them. On the second morning avc 
came upon them, when they commenced sliclling our 
advance. But we pushed on until we came to Black 
liver, when they burned the bridge after crossing ; but not 
before they got a few shells from one piece of DeGalyer's 
celebrated Michigan Battery, which made them skedaddle. 
Several prisoners were taken, who had dropped out by the 
roadside, not being able to keep np with the retreating 
'■ rebs." 

We encamped at Black river that night, and the next 
morning the rebels, iu turn, commenced to shell us. But 
their guns were soon silenced by DeGalyer, who is con- 
sidered to be one of the best artillerists in this Department. 
During the siege of Vicksburg he was wounded by a 
musket ball Avhile lying in his tent, and has been sent 
home. We remained near Black river four or five days, 
when we came upon the rebels at Eaymond. Our Brigade 
engaged them for about two hours, it being pretty severe 
for the time. But we succeeded in utterly routing them, 
losing out of the regiment twelve men wounded, two of 
whom have since died. Encamping near llaymond for the 
night, the next morning we set out for Jackson, arriving 
there just as the battle was ended. But the "Flying 
l>rigade " was not to be pnt ofi' in that way ; so we were 
ordered on the double-quick, in a kind of circuit around 
the place, to try and cut oU'the retreat of the rebels, (so it 
. 17 



258 HISTOPtY OF THE 

was said) making us travel livo or six miles for nothing, ag 
it appeared to us. 

We did not get to see the great rebel capital as we 
wished, as we encamped on the outer side of it. The )icxt 
morning wo were ordered back toward Yicksbnrg, and on 
the 16th came upon the enemy in full force at Champion 
Hills, Avhere our regiment was hotl_y engaged for live or 
six hoars, losing eight men killed and Hfty-six wounded. 
Company E lost none killed, but had four wounded, one 
of whom has since died^ — Jacob J3eisakcr, who was 
wounded in the leg, and had to have it amputated. He 
died on the hospital boat bound for Meniphi.*, In hij^ 
death Company E loses a good soldier, and his widowed 
mcther a noble boy. She has the sympathies of all the 
members of the companj', and has the consolation of 
knowing that he died in a good cause. ITe was loved and 
respected by all his companions in arm?:, and it sccuif* 
hard that we had to part With him. 

The battle of Champion Hills will long be remembered 
by the old k^eventy-Eighth, as wcli as by a great juany 
others. The rebel regiment in front of us in the fight 
was the Forty-Tlnrd Georgia, and ils mortality list show*; 
that wo done good work. The rebels vrcre completely 
routed anl demoralized, and fled in great confusion to the 
Black river bridge, where they endeavored- to make 
another stand, but were not given time. Our ibrces pur- 
sued them early next morning, and uuule a charge on their 
works at the bridge, capturing fifteen hundred prisoner?, 
seventeen pieces of artillery, and a lot of ammunition, when 
they made tracks toward Yicksburg. Our forces wore in 
pursuit as soon as pontoons could be got across the river; 
and on the 18th we succeeded in driving thcin in behind 
their forts. Our Brigade remained as a re.-erve until the 
22d, when we were ordered up to su}ip(U't the ehai'ge thfit 
was made that day. But finding tliat a failure, the next 
day our regiment was ordered to the snjtjiort vt' a battery, 
which position we held until the night of the 25th, when 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 259 

wc were onlercd to join the expedition sent out to ^[echaIl- 
icsburg under Genoral Blnir. Finding notliiug but a few 
cavalry, wliicli were 80ou routed, we returned by way of 
Haines' Blutts, where we remained three or four days, and 
tJien to Vicksbnrg, where we were doing constant duty in 
the riilc-pits until tlic 22d of June, when we Were again 
ordered to join an expedition sent out m command of 
(jreneral Sherman to attend to Johnston, who had been 
threatening onr rear for some time. We threw up fortiiiea- 
tious at a little place called Tiffin, expecting an attack daily. 
"We had been there but two or three days when we lieard 
nf tlie great surrender of A'icksburg on the 4th. That 
night our Brigade was addressed by Colonel Force, coni- 
laandi ug, who gave us a neat little speech. 

We could hear the tiring all along at Titfiu, and as it 
ceased that nioruij)g, it was supposed that something of 
tlie kind had tiikcn place, as avc knew it could not hold out 
much longer, and must eventually falh After remaining 
at Tiffin a tew days, wc moved to Bovina, on the A'icks- 
bui'g and Jackson liailroad, remaining there abont a week. 
We got orders to move toward Jackson, where we 
i^xpceted to liave something to do, as Johnston was reported 
there with forty thousand men, and strongly fortitied. 
The lirst day's marcli from Bovina brought us to Champion 
Hills, where wc encamped on the old battle-ground that 
we had tought over but a short time before. The next day 
we moved to Clinton, where we still remain. 

Since leaving Vicksburg we have been detached from onr 
«»ld Division, and are now under the command of General 
Alc/Vrthnr, for the time being; but we hope soon to go 
Ijack and join our old Division, commanded by the invet- 
erate Logan. \ 

We arrived at Clinton on the evening of the 14th, and 
the next morning all the troops moved out with the 
exce[)tion of our regiment, which remained to occupy the 
place. As a matter of course, wc had a great deal of duty 
to perform, being the only reglniont in the place. Colonel 



2G0 HISTORY OF THE 

Wiles boiug commander of the post, all persons "who 
wanted passes had to come to liira. He wa.s ke]it busy all 
day, issuing passes to persons who claimed to he wanting- 
to go to Vicksburg, and various other places, on very 
important business. Eut their main object was soon found 
out to be to convey intelligence to a cavalry force who 
were moving around here, their object sujiposed to be to 
attack Sherman's train that was moving on its way out 
from Black river, loaded with amninnitit)n and rations. 

On the evening of the 15th, Colonel Wiles received a 
dispatch from General Sherman, stating that a rebel cav- 
alry force was approaching, and for him to be on the alert. 
l^'he Colonel immediately commenced preparing to meet 
them. lie had the pickets reinforced, and oixlered the men 
to have their "tra})3" ready, so they could bo up and into 
line in a moment, should an attack l)e made. Those cit- 
izens had undoubtedly re})ortcd to them' that only one 
regiment was left at the place, and they thought they had 
us sure. ]jut al)Out 10 o'clock that night. General jMathias' 
r»rigade arrived from the front, it having been sent back to 
hel[) us out of the scrape. 

Of course we were glad to meet them, but we were deter- 
mined to do our best and liold the place if poseible. Tlic 
next morning a cavalryman came. .dashing down the road 
and told us to be ready, that they were coming in force. 
"VVe were into line in short order, and moved up to the rail- 
road, which we intended to occupy lor ])reastworks. It was 
but a little while until skirmishing commenced between 
our pickets and the " rebs." P)Ut for some reason they 
took care not to advance too close, although none but our 
regiment was in position. Xo doubt tliey had heard'of our 
j-einforcemenls the niglit before, and thought it l^est not to 
advance any further, for they soon found out that we were 
ready to meet them. 

The advance of the rebels — six in number — were cap', 
turcl by our pickets on their approach. They cauio npon' 



SEVENTY-EiailTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. T. 2G1 

our cavalry pickets before tliey were aware of their approacli, 
luid they had to fall back into the woo<U, and let the ''rebH-' 
come \u. ]>ut when they got to our infantry pickets tlicy 
were baited and told to surrender, and treeing our cavalry 
closing in behind them, they concluded they had to do it. 
Lieutenant Stewart, of Company E, had command of the 
])ickets, and was highly complimented by Colonel Wiles 
for the way he discharged his duty during the engagement. 

The force of the rebels was estimated at iifteen hundred, 
and in the fracas they lost two men killeil. Onr loss was 
nothing ; one of Company F had a piece taken off Ids 
jacket by a ball. So much fm- the Seventy-Eighth, who 
were victorious at the skirmish near Clinton, !Miss., July 
ii], 186-3. 

Since crossing the 3tlississippi river we have marched 
about three hundred and tifty miles, and lia\e endured 
hardships that no other troops have done in the same space 
of time, and doing as much good as v.'e have accomplished. 
At the siege of Vicksburg we were always on hand when 
duty called, and ready to face the foe ^^■hcn ordered. 

"While at Bovina the members of Company E took it 
into their heads to niake onr Colonei a present of a set of 
i^houlder straps. And you knoAV whatever they undertake 
to do they generally go through with. Below I give you 
the note accompanying the present, and also Colonel Wiles' 
reply : 

Camp near Bovixa, Miss., July 9, 18G3. 

LlEL-TEXAX-T-CoLOXEL G. F. WiLES : — 

Sir; — On behalf of the members of Company E, I here- 
with present to you a set of shoulder-sti-aps, thus sliowing 
our respect toward you as a man, and placing our entire 
confidence in yon as a commanding officer. J loping this 
act will niL'et A\'ith your a]>proval, I remain 

Your obedient servant, 

Ai>. A. AuAiR, 
::;, Sergeant Company E. 



262 HISTORY OF THE 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILES' REPLY. 

Headquarters Seyenty-Eigiitii Eegiment 0. V. I., |^ 
EoYiNA, Miss., July 10, 1863. j 

tSERGEANT AdAIR : 

It certainly affords me unfeigned pTeasnre, as well af* 
a very pleasant surprise, to recciYo and accept tlirongli yon. 
Sergeant, the Yery liandsonie present I Iiavc receiYcd Iron* 
that gallant company which you represent. Suc]i a mani- 
festation coming from the "boj-s" rentiers the net more 
dear to me, and is more of a compliment than it ivonld he 
coming from the Governor of onr State. I feel i)rond that 
my conduct has met the approvjt) of the men I haie the- 
lienor to command, and I shall endeavor to sustain that 
relation to the extent of my ability. 

I also regard it as no mxraeaning tribute, for the donors 
and. myself haYO been together on more than one occasion 
where it tried men's souls. Members ot Company E. 
again 1 thank you. G. F. AViles, 

Lieutenant Colonel Commanding. 

Our dut}' continues heavy — furnishing pickets, j-)roYOst 
g-uards and forage details every day, these liaving nearly 
half the regiment on duty dail}'. By going into the? 
country a short distance, roasting ears, melons, peaches 
and apples can be had in abundance. And the boys arc 
always ready for dvity when there is foragijig to be done. 

"VVe received the ucavs to-day of the evacuation of Jack- 
son by the rebels, where it was thought they would make 
a desperate stand ; but it seems as though they gave up the 
place with comparatively little fighting. Where thoy will 
make their next stcand I am unable to say. Eut my opin- 
ion is, they are about gone up the spout. The news fromi 
the east is Yery encouraging indeed ; and the time is not 
far distant when this rebellion will come to an end. 

The health of the boys is pretty good. A few cases of 
the ague still hang on, but there are no serious cases. 

Clinton is ten miles from Jackson, on the railroad, and is 
the most hitter sccesh hole I have come across in the South, 



SEVEXTY-EianTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 252 

I liave liad the honor of calHno^ on some of the fair damsels 
of the Southern soil, and find them even worse than the 
iiion ; which is generally tlie case on all topics, (not wishing 
to say anything against the dear creatures at all.) 

You can hardly see the town for the houses, but it is a 
pretty situation, and could be made a nice place. 

General McArthur is ordered to keep open the road 
against guerrillas between here and Champion Hills, but we 
are anxious to go back and join our old Division, and spend 
the summer on the Mississippi. 

On tiie 25th day of July the regiment returned to Vicks- 
burg and pitched camp on Walnut Hills, near the city. 
The terrible campaign ended ; General Johnston and all 
the rebel army driven far east of Jackson ; the Seventeenth 
Army Corps settles down round Vicksburg to rest and 
recuperate its thinned and wearied ranks. The Thirteenth 
Army Corps goes South ; the Fifteenth goes with General 
Sherman to Memphis, and thence toward Chattanooga. 
The brave Sixty-Eighth and Twentieth Ohio Regiments 
still remain with the Seventy-Eighth ; these three regi- 
ments have become banded together as firmly as brothers ; 
all have shared equally in dangers and hardships, in honors 
and triumphs. 

The effects of the long campaign upon the men begin 
now to be developed in disease, much sickness and 
many deaths. 

The Brigade remains scarcely a day idle, but commence 
i)uilding fortifications around the city. Two hours every 
(lay are spent in drill. 

August 25 — The Division went on reconnoisance to 
llonroeville, Louisiana. The march was a hard one, and 
many men never recovered from its effects. Part of the 
way was through swamps, now dried by the summer's sun, 
and covered with weeds and grass higher than the horses 
backs; in this, rattle-snakes of all sizes dwelt as thick as 
fish in the river. These the men shot and killed bj tlj9 
thousand. 



264 EISTOKY OF TIIK 

Monroevillc "was at length reached. The town is situated 
on the Washita River, and is a pleasant little place of ahont 
one thousand inhahitants ; the rehel army said to be 
encamped there had fled ; it consisted only of a few cavalry. 
Yankee soldiers were quite a curiosity to the natives, no 
Federal troops had before been seen by them. The people 
were living in blissful ignorance, cut ofi' from all conimuni- 
oations with the world, the}'' had not received the intelli- 
gence that Yicksburg had fallen, and come into the jios- 
session of the Federal army. The women manifested no 
fear, nor malignant feelings, but treated the soldiers very 
courteously, and visited the camps the next morning. The 
Di'V'ision remained but one night, and then took up its 
march again to Vicksburg, having accomplished nothing, 
but thinned somewhat the serpents of the bayous and 
swamps. 

All the sick able to travel are furloughcd homo, and 
Colonel Wiles Avith many of the officers received leave of 
absence. On September 13 a beautiful flag from the ladies 
of Zanesville was presented the regiment by General 
Leggett. I regret much that I cannot obtain a copy of his 
address to the regiment. Captain A. L. Wallar, then in 
command of the regiment, responded in its behalf in a 
brief and very appropriate speech. 

On November 15th the Seventeenth Corj^s start on a 
reconnoisance toward Canton and Jackson, Miss,, to dis- 
perse rebel encampments, and troof)s collecting there. The 
Seventy-Eighth had a lively skirmish with the enemy, but 
met with no casualties. The enemy in some force, with 
artillery, were positioned on a ridge. The regiment imme- 
diately made a vigorous charge up the hill. The enemy 
fled after firing a few rounds, which passed over our men 
doing no damage. 

The next day, finding no enemy at Canton, after destroy- 
ing much railroad stock, it took up its march for Vicksburg. 

November 13th, two days before the above expedition. 
General Logan reviewed the Third Division, and bid iiire- 



SEVEXTY-EIGnTII REOIMENT 0. Y. V. I. 265 

well to it in an earnest and deeply aficctino^ speech. Ife 
liad been appointed to the command of the Fifteenth Arnij 
Corps. 

General Leggett is appointed to take command of the 
Division. All were deeply atiectcd in parting with General 
Logan, bnt were much gratified in tlie appointment of 
(xCiieral Lcggctt as his successor; and ahly did he sustain 
the high character of the Division, and till the highest 
anticipations. Under liim it never lost a ilag by capture, 
nor was driven by the enemy. 

After the above expedition the regiment gave much atten- 
tion to military tactics and exercise in their various move- 
ments and combinations. It vras soon whispered by mili- 
tary men that the Seventy-Eighth excelled all others, as far 
a=5 their observation extended, in camp and field discipline. 
Other regiments, therefore, commenced giving their atten- 
tion to the same exercises in their camps, and were unwil- 
ling to concede so much to the Seventy-Eighth regiment. 
In order to settle the matter in qnostion General Leggett 
offered to present a large and beautiful flag to the best 
drilled regiment in the Third Division, which should be 
decided by a bench of competent judges. 

The 23d of January, 1864, was appointed to contest for 
the flag. The day was mild and pleasant, and the Division 
was assembled in review on a large plateau south of the 
city. After each regiment had drilled a few minutes, the 
Seventy-Eighth Ohio and One Hundred and Twenty- 
Fourth Illinois were chosen to contest for the flag. The 
ring was formed, which an immense crowd of spectators 
soon surrounded. The Seventy-Eighth Ohio first entered 
the ring and drilled the specified time, cheered with the 
greatest enthusiasm by the immense throng. The One 
Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Illinois entered and drilled 
the same length of time, but failed to elicit so much enthu- 
giasm from the crowd ; almost every one decided it in favor 
of the Seventy-Eighth Ohioi 



2G6 HISTORY OF THE 

T\ro of tlie judges were Illinois Generals ; the tliird was 
from Iowa. The former deeideil in favor of their own 
State, the latter in t^ivor of Ohio. The person 
npi)ointed. to present the flag, regarding the decision 
unjust, refused to discharge the duty assigned. 

On the 5th day of January" the regiment liad com- 
jileted its veteran organization, and was mustered accord- 
ingly, and all pre[)aratiou was made for going liome on 
veteran furlough, buthefore this was done, General Sherman 
came with the Sixteenth Corps from ])ilemphis, and 
decided to take it and the Se^•euteenth on an ex[)editiou 
througli Mississippi, which w;ib commenced February 1st, 
Tims ended the long and pleasant encampment at Yicks- 
bu]"g. 

The winter was made pleasant by the presence of Mrs, 
(Jeneral Lcggett, ]\lrs. Colonel AViles and Mrs. Captain 
J)ouglas, who spent tlie winter here with their husbands. 

Tlie following members of tlic regiment died of diseasQ 
at this post : 

Wesley Stinchcomb, C^ompany G, August 1. 
William Antil, Company Iv, August 8. 
AVilliam Jordan, CV)mpany K, August 3. 
Alva V>. Snitl', Company Jj, August 4, 
AVm. J. Korris, Company B, August 21. 
James Henderson, Company B, September 7. 
-Sprague, Company F, August 5. 



Corporal John McEiroy, Company E, August 7. 
James Bailey, Company E, September 27. 
Hamilton Gardner, Company B, August 14. 
Andrew Mercer, Company G, August 20. 
Turner, Company II, September 27. 

All brave men, who had passed, unharmed through many 
battles, dangers and hardships, but after a faithful service 
they surrendered, their lives a sacrifice upon their country's 
altar, in defense of tho right, liberty and humanity. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 267 

THE MERIDIAN EXPEDITION. 

A^iCKSBURG, Miss., March 0, 18G4. 

J^Kv. T. M. Stevenson, Chapliiin Seventy-Eigbth liegi- 
ment 0. V. 1. : — 

Kaving- returned safely to camp from an expedition 
^•reater than any we have ever hefore participated in, I ven- 
ture to give you an outline of our adventures Avhile "raid- 
ing* ■' in rebeldoni. We left camp on the morning of the 3d 
of February, as a part ot the Seventeenth Army Corps, and 
jireceded by the Sixteenth Army Corps, marched to Black 
ri\'er, which stream we crossed the same night, and bivouaced 
in the liekls three miles beyond the river. On the 4th we 
i-esumed our march, and passing tlie old battle-ground of 
('ham[)ion Hills, halted for the night near Bear creek. 
Thus far our way was not marked by an incident worthy 
of special notice. On tlie morning of the 5th the Second 
Brigade led the van, and upon approaching the bridge 
across Bear creek, the rebels were found to have a battery 
in position, commanding it. As the troops approached the 
l)ridge, a brisk fire was ke[it up by the rebels, notwithstand- 
ing wliicli the Brigade crossed, and forming in battle line 
in good order, advanced steadily on the battery. Soon after 
crossing the bridge a cannon shot passed through the 
Seventy-Eighth regiment, striking private Taylor Geary, 
of Company G, upon the head, carrying the upper portion 
of tlie head awa\', killing him instantly. It then struck a 
gun u}>on the shoulder of private Hiram Eogle, bending the 
gu]i and bruising him slightly. Passing on, the shot struck 
Coi'poral Joseph Cowan on the top of the head, fracturing 
tlie skull, and mortally wounding him. He died the next 
day. Both good men and true, ever faithful in the discharge 
of tbeir duties, they were held in high esteem by their 
ofhcers' and fellow soldiers. They fell gloriously, while 
confronting the cannon mouth, and died as brave men pre- 
fer to die — at their post. 

Our batteries were soon at work and after a sharp artil-. 
lery skirmish of nearly an hour, the rebels i^treated toward 



2G8 HISTORY OF THE 

Clinton, and we followed rapidly. The rebels made a stand 
four miles beyond Clinton, and threw shot and shell into 
onr midst, killing one man of the Seventh Missouri, and 
wounding several. They were soon driven from their posi- 
tion by our artillery, and fell back to a better piece of 
ground, a wood, where their entire force of mounted 
infantry, under General Wirt Adams, formed in battle line, 
and awaited our approach. Our train was parked, and the 
troops advanced, deploying to the right of the Jackson 
road as they reached the open fields, which extended for 
miles, and atlbrded a splendid view of both lines. As our 
line pressed to the right it slowly closed upon the left flank 
of the rebel line, threatening to turn it, when suddenly 
General Ilurlbut, with the Sixteenth Army Corps, appeared 
UDon their right, and in a twinkling they mounted, and 
moved like a whirlwind through the yet open space to the 
south, and escaped. One gun, a liue rifled Parrot, was 
(•a}jtured. That was the last we seen of them this side of 
I'earl l\iver. liesuming our march we reached Jackson. 
General Force occupied Jackson with the Fii-st Brigade the 
same night. Early the next morning the Seventy-Kiglith 
entered Jackson, served as provost guard, and made their 
headquarters in the State capitol building. On the 7th we 
crossed Pearl river, passed through and encamped one mile 
cast of Brandon. On the 8th we reached Morton. After 
destroying the railroad and depots, together with a large 
quantity of public stores, we went to Ilillsboro, and at that 
place the Sixteenth Army Corps was fired upon by a band 
of Mississippi State cavalry, without inflicting any damage 
to th<e Corps. A volley from our men scattered them with 
a loss of thirteen on their side. A Lieutenant of cavalry, 
(rebel) was shot next morning near our picket line. I can 
not now detail our march from this point ; sufhce it to say 
that we went steadily forward, passing several places where 
the rebels had commenced to tlirow up earth works, but 
after digging awhile they changed their minds, and retreated 
again. ^,Ve went so close upon them that their fires were 



SEVENTY-EIGHTn REGIMENT 0. V. Y. I. 2G9 

»till burning as we came to their camps. Broken wagons, 
<iead liorscs and mules, and the thousand things that sol- 
diers tlirow away when hard pressed, were to be found 
strewed along the road. 

Passing through Decatur, we finally reached the Littlo 
Chunkey river, and were in the neighborhood of Big 
Chunkey, where there was a splendid position and where it 
was expected the rebels would give us battle. Far from 
it — they destroyed the bridge, and felled trees across the 
road to obstruct us, and fell back, and we repaired tho 
bridges, removed the obstructions and went on. 

The train of the two Army Corps was left at Chunkey 
river well guarded, and the army went to jNleridian. TIiq 
work of destroying the railroads and Confederate property, 
was pursued witli diligence, north, south and east. "VVa 
spent one day in Meridian, and then the Second Brigada 
was ordered to destroy the railroad from JNIeridian to 
('hunkey river, which was done most effectually. Tho 
track was torn up, and the ties, with the rails laid across 
them, were tired, several miles of trestle-work, tho bridges 
across Okattibbee and Chunkey rivers, with three large 
mills, two locomotives, live cars, and quantities of cotton 
and cotton seed, were burned. The Thirty-Secoml iOhio 
went down the river about three miles to Chunkeyville, and 
destroyed much Confederate property there. Having com- 
pleted our work, wo marched to the Army Corps' camp 
and remained until morning. 

We then formed a foraging expedition, and went north 
about ten miles and't^aptured a notorioij^. rebel by the nam® 
of Davis — burned his mill, and brought off corn, meat, 
and forage cnougli to load the whole train, and wetdr 
followed back by a number of families, refugees. From 
this point refugees and contrabands continued to pour h.i, 
in great numbers, until our train became immense. Oh 
our return we pursued the same route we had traveled to 
IJillsboro. AVe then took tho route to Canton, and by 
the masterly manner in which the whole expedition vvai 



270 HISTORY Ot THE 

condacted, took tlie country by surprise. On our vcny 
down, a wag in the ranks put a pkieard on Lis hat, on 
which was inscribed "Mobile or hell," and the people along 
the road spread the news that the Yankees were coming in 
countless numbers, and that we were bound for Mobile, and 
such a panic was never known in Dixie. 

General Polk caught the alarm, and when Wirt Adam?^ 
would have fought us (and got splendidly whip]:)cd.) ordercil 
Inm to retreat, and kept tlie rel)els retreating until he 
crossed the Tombigljee river before he showed signs of 
fight. 

At Canton we cajitured and destroyed twenty-one first 
class locomotives, hundreds of pairs of car wheels, many 
cars, and an immense amount of Confederate machinery 
and stores. The railroad was thoroughly destroyed from a 
point about midway between Grenada and Canton, to a 
distance of eight or ten iniles, toward -Jackson. 

At Canton the Thirty-Second Ohio and Thirtieth Illinois, 
with two other Illinois regiments, were detailed, and 
Colonel Potts, of tlie Thirty-Second, was assigned to the 
command of them, with orders to conduct the rebel pris- 
oners (of which we had about two hundred,) the refugees 
and contrabands to Vicksburg. The train started and 
went but a few miles when we heard of the repulse of 
General Smith's cavalry, and that it had returned to Mem- 
phis ; also that Forrest was sweeping down upon us. 
Colonel Wiles, of the Seventy-Eighth, was i)laced in com- 
mand of the Second Brigade, consisting of the Twentieth, 
Sixty -Eighth and Seventy -Eighth Ohio, iind ordered to 
escort Colonel Potts' train until it met the supply train, 
which was on its way out from Vicksburg. AVc marched out 
about two miles, and were nearly prepared to rest, previous 
to receiving the orders, which came in the evening. Then 
we went out the Brownsville road about three miles, and 
again prepared our beds, but before we could use them v,'e 
were ordered to the front, and went farther out the road, 
with instructions to lie behind a high fence, and there w« 
were until morning. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 271 

AVlien tlie morning came we started, and after traveling 
eleven miles, met the supply train, and facing about we 
retraced our steps, escorting the supply train to Canton. 
After a night in the rain the two Corps took up tlieir lino 
of march for Vicksburg. On the evening that we entered 
Canton, the Seventy-Eightli encamped within a mile of the 
town, in an open field. Company 13, with others, had served 
through the day as pioneers, and their guns and tracts were 
put in a wagon. >Some of the guns were loaik'd l)ut ncit 
capped. AVhen the regiment stopped for the niglit, the 
wagon came up with the guns, and the boys were taking 
their gnns as fast as they could reclaim them. Trivate 
Lewis ]SIoore, becoming impatient at the delay, and seeing 
his gun under others, seized and pulled it toward him, when 
it dischar<i;ed its contents, strikini-- him in the lu'cast and 
killing him instantly. The bullet passed through him and 
entering the breast of private Jolm Skinuen, who wa?; 
standing be]iin<l him, passed nearly tlirough him, and 
lodged deep under the muscles of the back, from which 
point I extracted it. lie lived about twenty mimites only. 
Thus snchknly passed from earth two brave and faithful 
soldiers, liy an accident, who had esca[)ed death u[)Ou the 
l)attle-ii':'ld where bullets rained like a leaden shower. They 
came into the service together, messed together, were 
always on duty together, marched side by side, and were by 
the same bullet hi;rried into eternity. AVe Iniried them side 
I)y side with military honors in the quiet grave-yard in 
Canton, built a fence around their grave, planted an ever- 
green at their head, and left them. The accident happene<l 
on the 2Gth of Feln'uary, and they were buried on the 27th. 

Our march jrom Canton Avas a pleasant one, for officers 
and ]nen were in tine spirits. "We reached tlie Bakocheto 
on the second night and slept upon the tield over which our 
lU'igade skirmished in the Brownsville expedition. A body 
of rebel cavalry followed us from Canton, and shelled our 
rear, but were cautious enough to keep so far behind that 
not a shot reached our rear iruard. At the Backocheto we 



272 HISTORY OF THE 

expected an attack, as the gi-oiind favored the rebels, hut 
tliey left us there and went otf to the right, and were proh- 
i\h\y a part of, or may be the force that attacked our men 
at Yazoo city. Passing through Brownsville we pursued 
the road to Edward's depot, passed one night on the way, 
and on the next day (March 4tli) by a march of twenty -five 
miles we crossed Black river and arrived at Vicksburg. 

I would like to tell you of the country we passed 
through, its level lands and swain])S, its hills and vales, and 
its lofty pines, of our foraging expeditions, and how we 
subsisted upon the country, of the meat, the hams and 
poultry, turkies, chickens, and ducks, sheep, goats, hogs 
and beef cattle, that we despoiled the enemy of, and to 
describe how myriad fires at night from the burning of pine 
knots, made the country look like one vast smithy, such as 
we might fancy Yulean wrought in. And we became so 
begrimed with soot, that since our return, the Mississip})i 
even with the most diligent application will scarcely sufiice 
to wash it away. 

The papers arc full of statements relative to Sherman's 
expedition, the most of them being false, and many of them 
utijust. General Sherman carried out his orders, and exe- 
cuted them all, and would have acccimplished more, but he 
was by liis orders bound to return to Vicksburg, and did do 
it ; and so prompt has he been, and so untiring, that he 
remained in Vicksburg but a short time, and by the time 
w(! arrived here. General Sherman was six hundred mi1e§ 
from Vicksburg, arranging other important movements 
which had been entrusted to hhn, of which you will hear 
a good account in due time. 

Much praise is due to Generals Ilurlbut and McPherson 
for the masterly manner in which they managed their seve- 
ral Cor[1$; during the .expedition. Where all did well it 
would seem wrong to particula^ri'fie, but from the fact that 
the Third Division had a large share 'of work assigned i^ 
thus gives prominence to its leading olficecs. I cannot but^ 
note that General Leggett was the working ofiiccr of the 



SEVEXTY-ETGIIXn REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 27^ 

e:<:pedition — now in the front, then in the rear, as our col- 
umn seemed to be most threatened ; he was ever active and 
busy. General Force, of the First Brigade, performed 
important duties at Chunkey Station, skirmishing with the 
enemy and destroyed a large amount of rebel property at 
that point. Colonel Wiles, of the Seventy-Eighth, was 
]>Uiced in command of the Second Brigade, and esta))- 
lished his entire ability as Brigade Commander, for he 
went at it like a veteran. Tell the people that Sherman's 
expedition to Alabama was a glorious success. It 
destroyed one hundred and sixty miles of railroad so cflee- 
tually that it cannot be used again during the war. it 
destroyed between twenty and thirty locomotives and all 
the cars upon the roads. It destroyed every station from 
Jackson, Mississippi, to Alabama, at Meridian and beyond, 
together with all depots, and public property of all kinds. 
It destroyed all the cotton on both sides of the rout4.% for 
from three to ten miles into the country.' It destroyed the 
arsenals and machine shops at Meridian, with a largo, 
quantity of arms and munitions of war, and stores of nil 
kinds. It released thousands of Union men and women, 
who, as refugees came back with the expedition. It drove 
before it the entire military force of the Confederates from 
Champion Hills to a point beyond the Tombigbee river, 
and extorted from the rebel press an acknowledgement ot 
their inability to hold, and that they must abandon mU 
Mississippi west of Pearl river. It foraged the country and 
ibund corn, pork, beef and forage of all kinds in abundance, 
also liorses and mules in great numbers to re[)lace tlios*/ 
which gave out or were killed. It damaged the Confed- 
erate cause in the sum of between three and four hundrt»d 
jnillions of dollars. We were gone thirty-one days, and the 
sickness in the Seventy-Eighth averaged four men per day 
only, and on deaths, save from casualties in battle and tbt? 
two by accident. 

The Seventy-Eighth Regiment was always in demand, 
and did a large share of the work of the expedition, ^o 

18 



274 niSTOBY OF the 

re^-iment in tlie service is better clrillefl, more patient or 
enduring- ; no other regiment stands higher in the estima- 
tion of the Army Corps and Division officers. Patriotic, 
faithful, brave and true as steel, it has made an enviable 
]-ccord. From first to last. Company E has maintained a 
liigher rank, as a prompt and faithful company, second to 
none in the regiment. Morgan county may well be ])roud 
of it. During the entire march to Meridian and back, 
Avith all its side marcijcs and foraging expeditions, making 
in tiie aggregate over four hundred miles of travel, the 
Heventy-Eighth had fewer men in ambulances, or riding 
upon mules, horses, or the wagons, than any other 
regiment in both Anvij Corjis. 

"We hope to bo able to start for Ohio soon, (about tlio 
26th,) but may not get oii'so soon, as it is clifiicultto inxxuro 
transportation for the many veteran troops that ai'e to go 
home on furlough. I would like to write more, but (Imo 
j'urbids, ami my k'tter has already become lengtby. 

Yours truly, James !S. Keevks, 

Surgeon Seventy -Eighth liCgimeut 0. V. I. 



UOME OX veterans" FURLOUGH. 

THE MARCH TO ATLANTA — BATTLES AND SIEGE OF ATLANTA. 

The regiment left Vicksburg Mareli 20, for Columbua, 
Ohio, wliere it arrived on the evening of the 27th, after a 
long, weary, tiresome ride. The true soldier felt indignant 
at Columbus — no accommodations provided, no welcome 
extended, bnt received coldly, and very much as a rebel 
city of the South. "Wliat a contrast between Indianapolis 
and Columbus. When we reached the former a del- 
egation of citizens received us and had a good warm sup- 
]jer already prepared ; but when we reached the capital of 
our own State there was no manifestation of either respect 
or interest, except so far as to fleece the soldier out of the 
small amount of money he might have. 

April 5th the regiment arrived at Zanesville, where it was 
welcomed in a grand reception and rich suj)per by the citi- 
zens. The conduct of the brave men of the Seventy-Eighth 
Avas highly spoken of by all. It was commonly remarked 
that the men were more orderly, more gentlemanly and 
upright in their general deportment than others. Captains 
of transports, who were transporting troops almost every 
trip, say they always knew the Seventy-Eighth Ohio, by 
its quiet and orderly deportment. 

"When at home only two soldiers were known to have 
died. Caleb Wiseman, of Compan}' E, and Alexander 
McGregor, of Company C, both brave and faithful men, 
who have gone to their reward after much hard service. 



276 HISTORY OF THE 

May 6th the regiment started to Cairo, for duty in 
another department, and there entered upon the most 
trying duties of their military career. 

At Cairo the Seventeenth Corps concentrated, where it 
remained one day, and then, under command of General 
Frank Blair, embarked on hoats and passed up the Ten- 
nessee river to Clifton, where it remained over Sabbath. 

The morning of the 16th the long march overland, 
across Tennessee, Korthern Alabama, and into the heart of 
Georgia, was commenced. Tennessee Avas respected as a 
loyal State ; no foraging was allowed, not even a garden or 
henroost was disturbed. The march was the longest and 
most severe one the men had ever made, but they stood it 
well ; they plodded on without a murmur, through choking 
dust, and also through rain and mud, wading creeks and 
rivers, and resting at night without shelter from the dew 
and rain, their weary limbs and backs aching under the 
weight of the knapsacks, arms and traps. 

No enemy was seen or heard of until we arrived at 
Decatur, Alabama. Here our cavalry had quite a heavy 
fight, and did much damage to the enemy, killing and cap- 
taring several officers and many privates. 

Alter we crossed the Tennessee river the march throujrh 
IlTorthern Alabama to Rome, Georgia, was one of great 
interest and variety. The towns from Decatur to Rome are 
poor, shabby wrecks. The country poor, and the people 
most generally conforming to the character of the country ; 
poor temporally, and still poorer intellectually and spirit- 
ually. Few slaves were seen, the country not being adapted 
to that species of Southern property. W© therefore met 
with many Union people, claiming to be loyal ; many of 
them had been terrible sufierers from the exactions and 
cruel conscriptions of the Confederacy, and the " rich man's 
war and poor man's fight." We conversed with several 
poor families whose husbands and fathers had been killed 
by the dogs or shot by the conscriptor. Son)e men we !!«aw 
disabled for life in this way, and many had not yet recov- 
ered from wounds 



SEVENTY-EianTII KEGIMEXT 0. V. V. I. 277 

Tho inarch was over the Hand an<l Lookout ranges of 
luoiuitaius, which many poor }»eoplc inhabit in the mot;t 
destitute condition. How they lived seemed a great mys- 
tery. The army passing was a great terror to them, and 
we regret to say, many of them w^cre robbed and plundered 
of everything; but frequently many were fed and cared for, 
A\^e witnessed many instances of poverty, destitution and 
distress that stirred all the tender sensibilities of humanity. 

A\"hen we reached the top of Sand mountains and gazed 
across to the Lookout range rising in the distance before us, 
mountain piled upon mountain ; the majesty of the scene 
no ])en cau describe, no imagination can fully grasp its sub- 
limity. 

AVhen on the top of Lookout, we could hear the cannon- 
ading of the Army of the Tennessee, at a distance of 
seventy miles, then engaged in a severe battle near Lost 
iSlountain. 

The march was well conducted by Generals Blair and 
Leggett, marching twelve thousand men over these moun- 
tains at the rate of iifteen or twenty miles per day, with all 
the artillery and trains, was certainly an exhibition of much 
energy and military ability. 

The Seventy-Eighth went through without loss, or 
scarcely a murmur. Seldom was one found in the ambu- 
lances. 

Wo arrived at Home June 5th, where we begin to see 
some of the marks of war, and the nature of the cam- 
paign before us. 

Jiome is situated on the Coosa river, and in the midst of a 
beautiful and rich country. Before the war it had a popu- 
lation of three thousand, but all the wealthy have fled 
before our army, leaving well situated and comfortable 
homes- This place was afterward chosen for general hos- 
pital of the Army of the Tennessee, on account of its 
healthy locality and excellent water, and the greater part 
of the sick and wounded were sent from the front to thiii 
place. Here was located a large armory, where was manu- 



278 HISTORY OF THE 

factured a large quantity . of mimitioDS of ivar; {Lis tlic 
rebels burned when they evacnated the place. Mneh of the 
city was destroyed when General Sherman evacnated all 
these posts and commenced his march to Ihe sea. It con- 
tained several beantiful churches, a court house and female 
seminary, also many fine dwellings and commodious busi- 
ness houses. 

We pushed on the next morning toward the front, whicli 
was then at Ackworth. Th<[5 march was over one continu- 
ous battle-field. The country is deserted, the crops all 
destroyed and fine plantations dug over in the erection of 
fortifications by both armies. We reached Ackworth Juno 
8th, where we took our position on the left, in onr old pLace 
in the Army of Tennessee. Wo are now in battle liric, 
ready to move upon the enemy. 

On the 10th we moved forward, the whole army advanc- 
ing. We encountered the enemy's pickets at Big Shanty, 
where we commenced skirxnishing with tlicm. They fell 
back to the base of Ivenesaw ^^fountains, and our troops 
immediately commenced building a parallel line of works. 

Day by day our forces advanced, taking the works of the 
enemy, until they were driven to the top of the mountains. 
The Seventeenth Corps soon took all the hills to the left of 
Mount Kenesaw. In the morning the enemy had them. ; 
by noon the Third Division under General Leggett had 
possession of them, and our skirmishers, under commancl 
of Captain Wallar, captured a wagon load of corn bread, 
which drove into the Seventy-Eighth, not discovering the 
mistake till too late. Our boys thanked the teamster ai]<( 
commissary-sergeant for their kindness, as they were quite 
hungry for corn bread. 

The greatest privation our soldiers endured at this tim« 
was the lack of sufficient rations. At one time the men 
were three days without anything to eat, and all this time 
night and day were under the fire of the enemy, and gradu- 
ally pushing them before them. 



SEVENTY-EIGUTII REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 270 

Wliile advancing and making* a charge npo!i the oncniy's 
lines, the Seventy-Eighth had three ofhcers (Captain 
]\[cCarty, Captain Robinson and Captain Gillespie) 
wounded, and Sergeant Starr, of Coni[)any I, killed. 
The latter was a young man of sterling worth and integ- 
rity. There was no better young man in the regiment. 

The Seventy-Eighth suffered comparatively little loss in 
all this fightin.'j:, which is to be attributed to the careful and 
skillful management by Colonel G. F. Wiles, who knew 
just the time to strike, and hoAv to do it, and the men being 
veterans knew well how to meet successfully every move- 
ment of the enemy. Their promptness and celerity of 
movements shielded them from many a deadly missile. 

July 2d the Seventeenth Army Corps left their position 
and marched about fifteen miles to the right. This move- 
ment Avas successful in causing the enemy to evacuate th'.; 
mountains and retreat near the Chattahoochie river. At 
Xickajack creek we encountered the enemy, and sever<3 
skirmishing ensued for several days. Finally our forces 
■ were successful in taking the rebel works, and driving tlic 
enemy across the Chattahoochie ri\'er. The vSeventy-Eighth 
was wonderfully spared, not having any killed and only a 
few wounded. 

On the lf3tli the Corps again mo\ed to the extrenn? left 
of our army, and crossed the river ab )ve the rebel lines, 
which was successful in banking the enemy and cau' iug 
tinnn to retreat to their inner lines around the t-ity. Tlio 
Third Division took possession of Decatur, and destroyerl 
the railroad,. cutting olf their communication with Augusta. 
This was a serious misfortune to the enemy. 

The army then closed in within cannon range of the city 
of Atlanta, and the Kodnuin guns of the Third Division 
threw their shot and shell into the heart of the city. ITero 
took place one of the most bloody drannis of tlie war, in 
which General McPherson was killed, and where the Sev- 
enteenth Corps did the most terrible lighting, encountering 
the great part of the rebel army. Here the Seventy- 



280 HISTORY OF THE 

K!Li,-hth lo:.t heavily, (as well as every other regiment in the 
Corps,) in killed, wounded and prisoners. 

The following is a full description of the fight : 

THE BATTLE OF THE 22d. 

Before Atlanta, Ga., July 30, 1864. 

On the 20th inst. the Army of the Tennessee advai^iced 
toward Atlanta, from near Decatur. The Fifteenth Army 
Corps, commanded by General Logan, on the line of the 
Augusta Railroad, the Seventeenth, commanded by General 
I>hiir, on the left of the railroad, and the Sixteenth, com- 
manded by General D.odge, in reserve. "When the day 
closed Logan's Corps, the Fifteenth, was i>ear the enemy's 
main works at Atlanta. Llair s was in front of a high hil), 
strongly occupied by the euem3\ From citizens it was 
learned that this hill overlooked Atlanta, and was in short 
range of that much coveted city. The noble McPhersoB 
said, " We must have that hill."' General Blair directed 
Creneral M. L, Leggett, commanding Third Division, Sev- 
enteenth Army Corps, to adjust his troops so as to charge 
and take the hill in the morning. General Leggett did as 
commanded, (he always does) for about six o'clock, A. M,, 
of the 21st hist., he made a inaguitlcent charge, in the face 
of a deadly lire of nmsketry and artillery, and took the hili 
with many prisoners, 

In a few minutes he had artillery in position, and was 
playing vigorously upon Atlanta. The rebels made several 
vigorous charges to retake the hill during the day, but 
v/ithout success. General Leggett lost between three and 
lour hundred men in the charge, and inflicted a still greater 
loss upon the enemy. The Fourth Division, commanded 
l>y General G. A. Smith, attempted, also, to advance with 
(ieueral Leggett, but met such a murderous iiFe of artillery 
and musketry as to compel him to tall back undey a shel- 
tering ridge, after leaving many men in killed and 
wounded. During the day of the 21st, General Smith's 
I)ivision was placed in position to the left of General 
Leggett, and both Divisions thoroughly entrenched thein- 



SEVENTr-Eir.UTU REGLMENT 0. V. V. I. 281 

sf'lvos. facinp,- toward Atlanta.. The enemy wan discovered 
rnoviiiii- toward our extreme left, (Smith's Division was. 
now on our extreme left,) and the Sixteenth Army Corps 
was directed to take up position so as to protect our left 
fiafdv. The Sixteentli Arm.y Corps was moving to this 
position on the 22d, but liad not reached the left of 
General Smith by about three-fourths of a mile, when t.lio 
enemy fell upon it from the rear in heavy force. General 
Dodge met this unexpected onslaui^ht with a resistance so 
vigorous and persistent as to cause the rebels soon to retire. 
The enemy were as much surprised to find General 
Dodge where he was, as was General Dodge at being 
attacked. The enemy expected to meet no obstruction 
irom the rear excej^t the pickets of the Seventeenth Corps, 
and did not meet anything else in the gap of three-fourths 
of a mile between the left of the Seventeenth and right of 
tlie Sixteenth Corps. Through this gap the whole of 
Claiborne's Division of Hardee's Corps passed ur.dis- 
covered, the ground being covered bj a dense forest. The 
pickets were many of them killed or captured, and the 
balance followed in so closely as to be able to give but little 
alarm. The enemy rapidly advanced upon the rear of 
General Smith and Leggett. It was the advance of this 
force that shot the gallant and greatly beloved McPherson. 
The enemy first struck General Smith's Division on his 
extreme left, but very soon were upon the rear of botli 
Third and Fourth Divisions. Generals Leggett and Smitli 
both put their men over their Avorks, and met the enemy's 
mad charge with a terrible volley of musketry. The enemy 
pushed, however, up to within a few feet of our works, but 
were finally repulsed with a slaughter almost unparalleled. 
They fell back, reformed their lines and soon came up again 
in the same direction, and the conflict lor some time was a 
hand to hand combat, the bayonet and the clubbed musket 
were freely used, and the enemy again repulsed, leaving the 
ground literally carpeted with the dead and wounded. 
After a quiet of a few minutes, the enemy, a part of Hood's 



282 HISTORY OF THE 

old Corps (now Stevenson's) was discovered moving upon 
ns from the front. 

Generals Smith and Leggett placed their men to the 
rear of the works, and met the charge with the same deter- 
mined spirit that had characterized them in meeting the 
former onslaught. The enemy came with deafening yells, 
and were met with murderous volleys, and again success- 
fully driven back. Again they rallied and forced their 
way up to our works, and again were repulsed with great 
slaughter. In the several attacks from the front and rear 
the enemy seemed fully impressed with the belief that they 
would not only repossess themselves of Leggett's hill, but 
would capture both his and Smith's Division, and thus 
\\'¥[)Q out the Seventeenth Corps. After the fourth repulse, 
the rebels seem to have concluded that Blair's command 
could not be captured, and so turned their attention to 
retaking the hill. 

For this purpose, they brought in a fresh Division, 
(Cheatham's) of Hardee's Corps, and massed upon General 
Smith's left flank. This of course compelled Generi)! 
Smith to change his front. General Blair several times 
sent word to General Leggett that it was all important to 
hold the hill, and General Leggett as often replied "that if 
the Third Division were driven from the hill, there would 
not be enough of it left ever to fight another battle.'' Ho 
was constantly passing up and down his line, cheering bin 
men, and exhorting them to hold the hill at all hazards, and 
not to leave it while a man vras left to pull a trigger. He 
was always greeted with loud cheers from his men, and had 
thousands of promises that the hill should be held. General 
Smith was no less vigilant, and though almost a stranger 
in his command, having been with the Division but two 
days, had already won the admiration of his officers and 
men, by his skill and bravery. 

In the change of front it was necessary to take the 
whole of the Fourth Division and the Second Brigade of 
the Third Division out of their works, and though greatly 



SEVENTY-ElGnXII REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 283 

fatigued with the previous fightiug-, ther Avere obliged to 
meet, without protection, the advancing eoliinin of the 
enemy's fresh troops. All who witnessed the tighting at 
this time, pronounce it the most desperate they ever saw. 
Tlie iiglit almost immediately became a hand-to-hand con- 
flict. The otHcers became engaged with their swords, and 
the men with their bayonetSj and iu many cases even with 
their fists. 

The heaviest part of this engagement fell on the Sixt}-- 
Eighth and Seventy-Eighth Ohio ; but they stood like 
rocks, determined to die or conquer. The enemy vras at 
last repulsed — again leaving the ground covered Avitli their 
slain. 

In the midst of this engagement, while to all others the 
fiite ot the (hiy seemed to hang in the balance, (General 
Blair sent a messenger to General Leggett to enquire 
whether he thought he could hold the liill. General 
Leggett coolly replied: ''Tell General Blair the hill is jnst 
as safe as if there was not a rebel witliin a thousand miles 
of it." He had many times seen his men fight before, and 
he knew what confidence to repose in them. • Had either 
the Sixty-Eighth or Seventy-Eighth Ohio given way at a. 
single point, the hill would have been lost, and perliaps tlio 
Army of the Tennessee with it. Too much praise cannot 
be awarded to Generals Smith and Leggett for their skill 
and dauntless courage in this action. 

General Leggett, I believe, is a citizen of your State, and 
Ohio may well be proud of him, for a truer, steadier, or i\ 
braver man never faced an enemy. 

General M. F. Force, who commanded the First Brigade 
of Leggett's Division, and greatly distinguished himself in 
the charge of the 21st, fell severely wounded with a shot 
through the head, early in the fight of the 22d. 

The rebels got off a large jDortion of their wounded 
during the fight. The next day the enemy seut in a flag of 
truce, desiring to get their dead. A truce of one hour, on 
General Leggett's front, was granted for that purpose. But 



284 HISTORY OF THE 

the lime was insufficient,. General Le^-gett delivered to the 
enemy and buried one thousand rebel dead. As the whole 
of General Smith's Division was occupying a new line, the 
nundjer killed by his Division was not estimated in those 
counted by General Leggett, as they were in the rebels' 
hands. 

The battle also raged to considerable extent on the front 
of the Firteenth Corps, but the Seventeenth had the brunt 
<tf the ijght, and covered itself with glory. The Corps fully 
avenged itself for the killing of its fornaer commander. 
The oh] Seventeenth was never whipped. The Third and 
]"'ourlh Divisions have fully vindicated the fighting reputa- 
ti(;n of the Corps. 

The Seventy -Eighth Ohio sutFered very severely; have 
t\\enty-seven killed, one hundred wounded, and twenty 
taken };risoners. Captains !McCarty and Gillespie wer© 
taken })risoner. 

Sec records for the killed and wounded. 

\\\' liave obtained permission to publish the following 
re{>oi't of General Leggett on the battles of the 21st and 
22d of July, before Atlanta : 

"Headquarters Third Division, Seventeenth A. C, ^ 
Before Atlanta, Ga., July 25th, 1864. / 

Colonel A. J. Alexander : 

Colonel: — My constant duties on the line, entrenching, 
fortifying and fighting, has necessitated a delay in making 
my report of the part taken by my Division in the engage- 
ments of the 21st and 22d insts. until the present time. 

In pursuance of orders from Major-General Blair I moved 
my Division upon the enemy's works on the hill which I 
now occupy, about sunrise on the 21st inst. The rebels 
made a stubborn resistance, but my command moved at a 
(piick-step until the enemy opened fire, and then struck a 
double-quick and took possession of their works and several 
}n-isoners. The enemy rallied and made repeated eflbrts to 
drive us from the liill, but were unsuccessfuL In this fight 
the First Brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General M. ¥-> 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REdlMEXT 0. V. V. I. 285 

Force, was particularly conspicuous, and did groat honor to 
themselves and the cause for which they fonglit. 

Before 9 o'cleck, A. M., of that day I liad a battery in 
position, and threw shells into Atlanta. 

During the day the enemy were discovered moving to 
the left, and the Fourth Division moved to and took ])(-)si- 
lion on my left ; and our Hanks were as well guarded by 
pickets and outposts as ])ossib]e in our position with our 
limited force. The balance of the day and tiie following 
night were used in entrenching and fortifying. 

About noon of the 22d I discovered that the enemy liad 
got in our rear, and were engaging the Sixteenth Army 
(Jorps, while making efforts to close up the left of oia- 
Corps, while still a gap of half a mile on the left of the 
Fourth Division was only guarded by a skirmish line. The 
enemy broke through this gap, and in a few minutes came 
in a heavy force (Cheathanrs Division of Hardee's Corps) 
upon my rear, moving over the same ground and in the 
same direction I had come the day before. I irnnu'diatcly 
put my men upon the other side of the works, their fuci'S 
to the east and backs toward Atlanta. The enemy came 
upon us with demoniac yells, but were met with a cool, 
deliberate and well aimed fire, that soon cliecked their 
advance, caused tliem to stagger and then retire in confu- 
aion. Tliose who reached our works were made prisoners. 

They soon rallied, re-formed, and again advanced u[K)n 
us in the same direction and Avith the same resnlts. in 
these two attacks they were punished very severely, leaving 
a very large number of killed and wounded on the ground. 

A lull of some twenty minutes occurred at this time, after 
which our skirmishers toward Atlanta were driven in, 
followed closely by a lieavy force which advanced with 
yells. My men were placed upon the east side of their 
works, and met the charge as they had the others, and 
repulsed the rebels beautifully. 

They were rallied and again advanced, and were again 
repulsed. 



286 HISTORY OF THE 

vSoon a lieavy column (Clieatliara's Division of Hardee's 
Corps) moved directly npou the left flank ol the Fourth 
])ivision, which compelled it to change front and leave its 
works. As the approaching column advanced in the 
A-icinity of my left, I caused the Third Brigade of my 
commiuid to follow the movements of the Fourth J division, 
hut Avith tbe positive injunction that the hill must be rdaincd 
at all hazards, at whatever cost. 

The Second Brigade was tljen formed vrith its i-ight rest- 
ing upon tlie hill, and the left upon the Fourth Division, 
facing south. This change of front was executed under a 
heavv fire of musketry, and of grape and canister and in 
the face of a rapidly advancing force of fresh troops, com- 
l>osed probably of the enemy's best fighting men, 
(Cheatlnmfs Division.) Our men were greatly fatigued 
with about four hours hard fighting, and A\'ere now obliged 
to meet the eneujy in the open Held, witliout protection of 
any kind whatever, except a portion of the First Brigade 
o!i tbe hill. In this part of the day our troops showed 
their true soldierly (pialities. They stood like rocks of 
adamant, and received the repeated charges of the enemy 
without yielding an inch. Tlie engagement here became 
iinally a hand-to-hand tight, the sword, the bayonet, arid 
even the " fists," were li'eely and effectually nsed, and the 
enemy repulsed witli a slaughter I never before witnessed. 
Tbis conflict ended the day. My officers and men behaved 
vrith determined br;ivery. 

]S[y losses were heavy, and in some respects particularly 
imfortunate and embarrassing. At the very commence- 
ment of the action, even before a shot had been flred from 
my line, Colonel K. Iv. Scott, commanding my Second 
]>rigade, was captured by the enemy while returning to 
liis command from a detached regiment ; and during the 
first attack, both Brigadier-General M. F. Force, and the 
Adjutant General, Captain J. B. "Walker, fell severely 
wounded. These officers occupying the position they did, 
jli.nd having the entire confidence of their tommand;^, coukl 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I, 287 

rot be spared without great detiiinent to the Division. 
This was particular] y the case with Brigadier-General M. 
F. Force, whose coolness, sagacity and bravery had long 
since won the admiration of the whole Division, and 
iilways inspired the men with confidence and enthusiasm. 

The Batteries of Artillery in my Division, tlie Third 
Ohio, Battery '■ D," First Illinois, and Battery " II," First 
Michigan, did \Qvy eificient service during all of these suc- 
cessive engagements, and tlieir olHcers and men sliowed 
great skill and d-ternilned bravery. Captain "W. S. 
WilUams, Third Ohio Battery, my Chief of Artillery, is 
entitled to great credit for the coolness and skill displayed 
in adjusting and using his batteries, and in saving them 
when exposed. 

E-pecial notice is also due to Coh:)uel George E. Brj^ant, 
Twelfth Wisconsin, who assumed command of the First 
Brigade, when General Force fell, and to Lieutenant Col- 
onel G. F. Wiles, Seventy-Eighth 0. Y. Y. L, who took 
command of the Second I^rigade. These officers, though 
taking command after the battle commenced, disidsiyed 
great skill and coolness. Captain G. D. Munson, my picket 
officer, was very efficient in the management of the skir- 
mishers until drawn in, and in acting as Aid during the 
Ijalance of the time. ^ly Aids, Lieutenants A. Y". Stewart 
and George W. Porter, Captain J. C. Douglass, A. A. G., 
Lieutenant W. II. Hessin, A. A. A. G., and ^lajor John T. 
Llainey, A. A. I. G., all displayed great coolness and bravery 
in collecting information and delivering orders, and Lieu- 
^tenant Y. Y'arner, Ordnance Officer, for his .skill in saving 
his train, and his promptness in keeping the command sup- 
plied with ammunition. 

The character of the fight was such, our front changing 
€o often and so rapidly, that the position of a staff officer 
was more than usually exposed, yet all were prompt and 
cfilcient. Lieutenant Hessin fell from his horse severely 
wounded, during the latter part of the fight. . * "^ * 
Y'e captured about four hundred prisonorSj and from less 



288 HISTOKY OF THE 

than t^vo-thirds of the ground fought over by the Division, 
buried and delivered to the enemy under flag of truce, 
between nine hundred and one thousand dead rebels. I am 
fully confident that my Division killed and wounded more 
rebels than I had men engaged. 

I am, Colonel, very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant, 
[Signed] M. D. Leggett. 

Bris'adier-Goueral." 



HISTORY OF CAPTAIN W. W. McCAKTY'S 
PRISON LIFE, AND SOUTHERN PRISONS. 

When I loft our landing at McConuelsville some t^Yelve 
niontlis ago, accompanied by a gallant band of veterans, tO' 
rejoin the army of the Soutli-"VVest, I but little dreamed of 
all the vicissitudes through which I was to pass before I 
should have the pleasure of seeing the faces of my friends 
again. It is true, from an experience of nearly three years 
in the field, I was not insensible of the dangers from sliot 
and shell. I had thought, too, of the diseases of a sickly 
Southern clime ; but the idea of becoming a captive in the 
hands of the enemy was a matter which had not for a 
moment engaged my attention. But that Unseen Power 
that directs the affairs of men as well as of nations seemed 
to decree that I should experience the realities of war in all 
its variety. 

On the 19th day of July the Seventeenth Army Corps, 
after a wearisome march through a portion of Tennessee^ 
Northern Alabama, and across the Sandy mountains of 
(leorgia, a distance of over three hundred miles, driving 
the enemy before ns, we arrived within a few miles of 
Atlanta, where the rebel General Uood had made a stand. 
On the morning of the 22d we were attacked on the left 
flank, and in our rear, by General Ilardee's Corps, that had 
moved out the night before, while the remaining portion 
of the rebel army confronted our right. ^\"e were sooa 



290 HISTORY OF THE 

apprised of the attack by General Leggett, -who rode along 
our line in person, as well as by the rattle of the enemy's 
musketry, and frequent visits of the iron messengers sent 
from the rebel "howitzers." The conflict soon became 
terrible, and in the early part of the engagement our brave 
and gallant commander, Major-General McPherson, fell, 
which caused for a time great consternation among our 
troops. But our brave boys of the West were not disposed 
to let the rebels achieve a victory. They fought with des- 
peration. 

The Seventy-Eighth, under command of Colonel Wiles, 
was occupying a line of breastworks from which we Jiad 
driven the rebels the day before. These works we were 
ordered by General Leggett to hold. Inspired with confi- 
dence in our gallant Colonel, nearh^ every man in the 
regiment seemed determined to see the order carried out or 
die, and during the struggle several of our brave boys fell, 
some of them to rise no more. We nevertheless held the 
entrenchment all day, but were comipelled to change front 
several times during the day, repulsing the enemy in several 
heavy charge:;. About half an hour before sun-down, the 
rebels, who liad driven the Thirteenth and Eleventh Iowa 
regiments, and got possession of the left end of our line of 
works, opened a heavy artillcjy tire, raking us with gra}!C 
and canister. 

At this time Colonel Wiles was in command of the I>rig- 
ade, in consequence of the capture of Colonel iScott, which 
liad taken place during the day. Major Eainey was there- 
fore placed in command of the regiment. Pursuant to 
orders, we at once A'acated the entrenchments and moved 
out into an open Held on our right. Here a Brigade of the 
rebels, of General Claiborne's Eivision, was concealed in a 
dense thicket of woods near by, and opened a tenitio tire 
upon us. We had nothing to jirotect us, and the rebels 
being in close range, protected by the woods, had eveiy 
advantage. I saw" some iivo or six of the boys of my 
company shot dead, one of whom was in touching distance 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 201 

of mo. The regiment commenced to fall back, when the 
rebels poured out of the woods as thick as blackbu'ds, and 
commenced maknig prisoners of the wounded. Seeing the 
regiment receding, I gixvo orders to my company to fall 
back with the balance of the regiment, and stepped back 
ii few paces to what had now become our rear, to look after 
s'ome of the boys who were but slightly Avounded, and 
whom I had hoped to extricate from the danger of being 
captured by the rebels, by getting them to fail back with 
the company. Unfortunately, Isovvevor, I attracted the 
notice of the rebels, who raUied upon me with furious oatlis, 
the Captain of their gang giving orders to "shoot the 
d — d Yankee rascal,"' the Captain himself rushing upon 
me with a nine-inch uas'y revolver pointing to Tuy breast, 
and demanding my surrender. By this time some six 
muskets were pointing toward me^ the liolders of tliem 
awaiting an answer which I was a little slow in giving, for, 
to say I would not surrender, I knew was instant death, 
and to acknowledge a surrender vv'as one of the niost ]>ain- 
i'ui events of my lite. On a littJe deliberation I concluded 
lEiy life might yet be of service to somebody, and thinking- 
it the " better part of valor," I surrendered witli a "mental 
jvservation." ^fy sword was then demanded by the rebel 
Captain, who took hold of the belt. I stepped back and 
coumienced to (piibble with him about his rank, as he had 
no insignia of oilice, and renicmbering an admonition of 
?uy brother the day of leaving Camp Gilbert, never to "dis- 
honor my sword." I refused to comply with his denuind 
rmtil I became further satisled that he was aTi othcer of 
equal rank. By this time Colonel Wiles liad arranged our 
iirigade in a position to rejicl any further advance of tluj 
rebels, and instantly a heavy volley of musketry niul 
artillery came from our lino, which frightened my captorsi 
no little, and taking advantage of their scare, 1 threw my 
sword as far as I could send it in the direction of our own 
line, where it would have baen unhealthy for the rebels to 
undertake to sret it. As the rebel line was now falling 



292 HISTOKY OF THK 

back iu great haste, they commenced to hurry me, together 
with four of my men whom they had also captured, off the 
field. 

We were marched to General Hardee's headquarters, 
where w^e were placed under a detachment of Wheeler's- 
cavalry, and together with about a hundred others of my 
own Division, were marched into Atlanta by a circuitous- 
route of about fifteen miles, although the place of our 
capture was only two and a half miles from the city. 

In Atlanta many of the prisoners were robbed of their 
watches, hats, haversacks and rubber blankets by the rebel 
officers. But as my clothes were old and threadbare, and 
inv appearance rather sliabby, they eoncluded I was not 
worth robbing, and did not disturb me there. On the 
morning of the 21st we vrere taken to East Point, a stations 
0:1 the railroad seven miles south of the cit}'^ and ushered 
into a stockade, with about two thousand other prisoners 
that had been captured on the 19th,' 20th and 22d. Of this 
number some three hundred were oflicers, among whom 
were Colonel Shedd, of the Thirtieth Illinois, Colonel R. Iv. 
Scott, of the Sixty-Eighth Ohio, (my Brigade commander). 
Jjieutenant-Colonel C. AV. Chincy, of the Fifty-Second Ohio, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Sanders, of the Sixteenth Iowa, Captaim, 
Gillespie of my own regiment, and many others of my 
acquaintance. V^e were kept in this pen until tlie 25th, 
when we were ordered to Macon, a distance of ninely-six 
miles south. Although the cars were running tlirougli- 
from Atlanta to !Macon, the rebel officer informed us we- 
would have to march twenty miles of the way, as the cars- 
on that end of the road were all u.-ed in convening their 
wounded to the rear, and transporting supplies. Feeling 
disinclined to do any marching for rebels, I told the rebel 
oflicer if he wished me to go to Macon they would have to 
carry me there, as I was unable to march. lie sent Captain 
Gillespie (who also became indisposed) and myself to the 
siirgeon, who excused us from marching. The balance of 
them were marched off in the morning, and we remained 



SEVENTY-EIGIITH REGIMENT 0. V. Y. I. 203 

for the comirg train. Wo spent the day with Major 
Deacon, the coniman(I«r of the post, who treated us very 
•courteously, and invited us to dine with him at his quarters. 
<)ne of the rebel guards informed me that when I wouhl 
i-each Islacou I would probably be searched for money 
before entering- the prison. In the evening we were placed 
^ipon the cars under a strong guard and started for Macon. 
I had one hundi'cd and seven dollars in greenbacks, and 
two dollars and fifty cents of rebel currency in ni}^ pocket; 
:-and what to do with it become to me n vexed question, as I 
<lid not want to lose U, but rather than let it fall into the 
rebels' hands I would have torn it up. I at IcHgth concluded 
to try and conceal it, as none of them had yet suspected me 
of having any. So when darkness set in, and the guards 
Ijccame a little careless and sleepy, I took a ball of yarn 
which I carried in my haversack for darning my socks, and 
%vrappc<i it neatly around the folded l«i]ls and placed it back 
again along with my pins, needles, etc. And true enough 
when Wie arrived at ^tlacon the first thing on the programme 
was to search us for greenbacks. They turned every 
pocket, stripped ug to the shirt and examined us from head 
to foot. They tiien took my liaversack and ransacked it. 
As the officer took the ball of yarn into his hand, I assure 
3-on I began to feel a little "weak kneed." But fortunately 
lie did not mistruist there was any money it, and replaced it 
In my haTersaek. 

Finding nothing that was attracting about us we were 
'faext introduced to the fair ground, which they had arranged 
for a prisoner's camp. The ground wa,s enclosed by two 
lines of fence, the outer one about twelve feet high, and 
siround the top of which the guards were posted at proper 
intervals, and the inucu" one, a paling fence about ten feet 
from the outer one, was the dead line, which it was a death 
penalty to touch or approach- 

Oii entering the iiich)sure the cr^' of "fresh, fish! fresh 
tish ! " went up fro.ni all parts of the camp, and a general 
I'ush. was made bv about twelve hundred officers of "Libby " 



294 HISTORY OF the 

notoriety, wlio gathered aroniid us as tliougli we liad come 
iVoiii aiiotlier world, each trying- to catch a word of news. 
Every now and then the cry would go np from those who 
could not get up to us, " Louder, old pudding-head! '' "0. 
don't croAvd 'cm'." "give 'cm air ! " and "don't put any 
lice on 'em ! " To these ejaculations I at first felt provoked, 
thinking they were making sport of us, but I soon learned 
that it was only their mode of initiating new con-^ers. Here 
I met Lieutenant Paul, of jSIorgan county, Captains Eeed 
and Koss, of Zanesville, Captain Poe, of the Sixty -Eighth 
Ohio, and " Coon-Skin," of General Force's stait", togetkev 
with many others of my acquaintance. 

The old prisoners were quite shabby looking, many O'f 
them dostituto of shoes and otbci*' clothing. Some of theirs 
had DO trowsers, and were going about in dravfers. Soni& 
of the most destitute ones would steal the meal sacks wliich 
the lations of meal was delivered in, and, make them up 
into trowsers. These sacks wwo all brandod in >arg& 
l)lack letters, "Tax in kind," as each planter was taxed a 
certain jx)rtion of his prod'ucis for the support of the arm}-^ 
wdiicli was required by tbeir laws to be thus marked. Th'S' 
particular loealih' of tho brand after the- sacks were con- 
verted into trowsers, was eommonly m the rear, a place 
hard to eoneea] without a coat, win eh but few^ of tliemt liad,, 
lience it )ed to their detection, and the rebel oiBcers threat- 
ened to cut us short in rations if we used any n^ore of thei? 
meal V>ags for smch. purposes. As our rations only co-nsistecl 
of a pint of nteal per day, a half pint of rice for five day&, 
and a few ounces of bacon ^ we concluded it v»'o»uld be bettei" 
to go naked than starve. 

The rebel officers here wtTvE- tqtt tyran?ireaf. On one 
occasion an ofRcer of the Forty-Fifth jS^ew York was shot 
while returning from the spring where he liad loecn 
bathing, without any provocation whatever, and no expla- 
nation w^as ever made by thie rebel authorities, nov 
even an investigation of the conduct of the Geueral ^.'ho 
committed tlds willful iuid deliberate murder. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH EEGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 295 

Wc had not been long at Macon until one day we lieard 
tlie booming of cannon, and could see that there was a great 
commotion among the rebels. We could see them (the 
citizens) on the tops of the houses looking across the river, 
and the guards around us were doubled in number. It was 
.8toneraau's approach, and we were now in high hopes of a 
speedy deliverance, as we felt assured if Stoneman should 
enter the town, that wo could disarm the guards and join 
them. But our hopes soon fell to the ground by seeing the 
next day, Stoneman and a number of his party join us 
iis prisoners of war. This was a hard stroke'on the Major- 
General, but as prison life is a great leveller of rank, he 
soon cased down and became a common prisoner with the 
rest of us. 

vSoon after Stoneman's capture we were hurried off to 
■Charleston, where it was thought we would be more out 
of the way of Sherman. On our arrival there. Captain 
Keed and others escaped and succeeded in reaching our 
lines. At Charleston we received much better treatment in 
the way of rations, etc., than we had received at Macon. 
Although we were under the fire of our own guns, we did 
not feel much alarmed, as it annoyed the guard more than 
it did us, and it afforded us a little amusement to see the 
guards dodging the shells. 

Here I received my first letter from home. It was the 
iirst time for nine or ten weeks that I had heard one word 
o'l information about the fate of my company, or whether 
my family knew anything of my whereabouts or what had 
become of me. My mind was relieved of a heavy load of 
anxiety, but still I was a prisoner. About the middle of 
September I had a severe attack of intermittent fever, as 
did also my messmate, Colonel Clancy. We were both 
sick at the same time. I was taken to a hospital in the 
city, where, in justice to the rebel surgeon, I feel bound to 
say I received good medical attention. I only remained 
here a week, when my chills being cheeked, I was con- 
veyed to a convalescent hospital three miles from the city, 



296 HISTORY OP TUB 

where my medical attention was also good. This hospital 
was in charge of G. R. C. Todd, a brother-in-law of Pres- 
ident Lincoln. The doctor was an ardent rebel, and one 
incident occurred there which I shall not soon forget, A 
colored prisoner, belonging to a Massachusetts regiment, 
who had been taken at Fort Wagner, was accused by the 
guard oi spitting from the portico of the building down 
into the yard, and without any investigation whatever, 
the doctor caused him to be stripped and tied, and receive 
thirty lashes on his naked back. The indignation of our sick 
prisoners was intense at this brutal treatment inflicted by 
the hand of a man far inferior to the negro, for the latter 
could read and write, while the other could do neither, 
and could scarcely tell his name. The negro was a pris- 
oner of war, born and educated in a free State, and he was 
entitled to the same protection and treatment that we were,, 
and the doctor could assign no other reason for his viola- 
tion of the rules of warfare, than that the boy was a " d — d 
nigger," But perhaps the doctor will apply for pardon 
now. 

I only remained at this convalescent hospital about ten 
days when I was sent back to the prison. In the early part 
of October the yellow fever began to spread extensively 
through the city, and they decided to send us to Columbia; 
not so much for our safety as for their own, for Sherman 
was facing toward the coast, and beside our removal was 
regarded as a sanitary measure for the city. As several 
exchanges had taken place during our stay at Charleston, 
our number was now reduced to about twelve hundred, and 
the most of us regretted to leave, as our quarters here were 
more comfortable than we expected to get by going to 
Columbia. Eut soon the order come, and we were packed 
into cattle cars and ofi'for Columbia, a distance of 134 miles 
north of Charleston. We arrived at Columbia on the 5th 
of October, and from thence conveyed three miles west of 
the city, where we were placed in an open piece of grountl 
■without any inclosure, and simply a camp guard throw u 



SEVENTY-EIGIIXn REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 207 

aroimd us. All ration? of meat were ordered to bo cnt ofr" 
from us and sorghum molasses given in lieu thereof. Ilenee 
we called this "Camp Sorghum." At this camp we annoyed 
the rebel officers very much by frecpient escapes and demor- 
alizing the guard. Two more of our number were shot 
here without any provocation, while inside the dead-line. 
and the guards who committed these outrages, we were 
informed by some of the other guards, received promotions 
for their villainy. A large maj on ty of the guards were 
Georgians, and well disposed toward us. The rebel officers 
could not always watch them, and hence escapes were fre- 
cpient. At this camp many an amusing incident occured, 
one or two of which I propose to introduce in this epistle. 

On one occasion, while so many were escapii:)g, the 
rebel authorities procured the services of a celebrated negro 
Imuter, who kept a pair of blood-hounds that he luid 
trained for hunting down runaAvay negroes, for the purpose 
of trailing our escaped prisoners. As the " dorgs " were 
trotting around the guard lines one morning, some of the 
prisoners called them into their quarters and cut their 
throats, and then buried them in an old well which was 
was caved in. About 10 o'clock the dogs vere missing, and 
a detachment of guards sent to search for them. Tin? 
guards tracked the blood to the old well, and dug thein out 
with their bayonets and reported to the officers, who ordered 
them to be dragged out of the guard lines, where an inquest 
was held over them by about two thousand rebels. Their 
tirst conclusion Avas that the dogs were dead — the second, 
that some "d — d Yank" had killed them — and the third, 
woe be unto the men who destroyed the '' }>urps." Of 
course none of us knew who committed the nuirder, hence 
investigation was unnecessary. But what vv'as death for the 
rebs was fun for us. 

On another occasion, as we were getting no rations of 
meat, and had not had any for four months, and some of 
the more carniverous had become exceedingly lumgry for 
some, an old black boar came up to the guard lines one 



2i)8 HISTORY OF THE 

day, and the guard scared him inside the dead-Unc. This 
"vvas no sooner done than the war commenced. About a 
liuiKU'cd United States officers of .every rank, armed witli 
hhidgeons and boulders, attacked his majesty^ and in five 
minutes' time he was dive-sted of his sable robe and divided 
and subdivided until every ounce was apportioned out to 
tlie hungry raiders, thus affording nourishment to those 
fortunate enough to come in for a share, and by no means 
u delightful odor to the hundreds who were less fortunate. 

Our rations here Avere not as good as those furnished to 
till' enlisted men at Andersonville, but as some of us were 
Ibi'tunate enough to have money, we could l)uy light bread 
at one dollar and iifty cents per loaf, the loaf being about 
the size of a common saucer. We could also buy onions 
at one dollar each, butter at twenty-four dollars per pound, 
lard twentj'-four dollars per pound, eggs lifteen dollars per 
dozen, milk, watered to suit the purchaser, at two dollars 
]>er Cj[uart. I one time thought that something worse than 
water was in the niilk. As one of my messmates and 
myself were indulging in our "little old pot of mush" and 
some ^^ky-blue milk, we both became sick .at the same time 
and (li'()j)ped our spoons, and running to one side vomited 
jirofusely. I never was more deathly sick in my life; I 
thought everything inside of me would come up. 

As the rebel .officers could not control us very well in 
'■' Sorghum," they removed us to the asylum grounds in the 
citv. These grounds wore enclosed by a brick wall about 
twelve feet high. From this place our only channel of 
escape was through tunnels, and we had one nearly com- 
. })]eted when Sherman frustrated our work by advancing too 
rapidly upon the cit}'. AVe were hastened away in great 
Iright to Charlotte, in iSTorth Carolina, where we were aU 
pai'oled for exchange and sent to Ealeigh; thence to Golds- 
].)oro, thence to Ilocky Point, ten miles from "Wilmington, 
wiier.e we passed through our lines on the 1st ol March, 
1865.. 



SEVEXTY-EIGIITII REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 200 

Our reception by General Scliolleld's army Avas grand 
and imposing. A magnitieently decorated arch of ever- 
greens was erected over the road. On either side the old 
flag with its stars and stripes was nnfurled to the breeze, 
and as we passed through in four ranks, led by a famous 
brass band, nearly every heart was ready to bnrst with joy; 
and when once through, you would have laughed and cried 
too, as some of us did, to hear the loud huzzas and seen the 
okl blankets, hats, tin pans and tattered coats-^ sailing in the 
air from our lilseratcd prisoners, some of whom had been 
captives over two years. 

We set sail for Annapolis the next da}', and on arriving 
there we immediately divested ourselves of ,our rags and 
" creeping things,"' putting them in one common pile i'ov 
conflagration. The next day we had to take the second 
look to recognize each other, as we were all alike disguised 
with new suits of clothes. 

During my sojourn in rebel prisons, I met with a large 
number of honest, simple-hearted people, well disposed, 
and who had no heart in the rebellion. Many also who 
Avere extremely ignorant of the causes of the rebellion, or 
anything connected therewith. I also found, even among 
the intelligent, some well disposed and gentlemanly officers 
and citizens ; indeed I might safely say that these two 
classes constituted a majority of those with whom I became 
acquainted. But among the ring-leaders and those high in 
authority, as also some of the " roughs," I found many who 
well deserve the rope. 

In all n\y experience, I have never met with a treacherous 
negro. That there are some, I have not a doubt, but all I 
met with I found trusty, and many of them more intelligent 
than the poor whites. The fielddiands, however, on the 
cotton plantations, are very ignorant and debased. 

McCoxNELSViLLE, 0., July 10, 18G5. 
Friend Stevexsox: — There is one incident coimectod 
with my prison life which I omitted in my former letter, and 
which I now propose to give you. 



300 HISTORY OF THE 

On the 8tli of November, 1864, at 2 o'clock A. :M., Cap- 
tain Turner, of the Sixteenth Iowa, Captain Strang, of the 
Thirtieth lUinois, Lieutenant Laird, of tlie Sixteenth Iowa, 
and myself, made our escape through the guard hues at 
" Camp Sorghum," near Cohmibia, South Carolina, with a 
view of making our way to the gunboats near the m^outh of 
the Edisto river. Having passed through in single lile, 
without dravknng a tire from the guard, we struck our way 
for the timber, and after wandering aroimd an area of some 
five miles, in search of the Orangeburg road, we at length 
found ourselves about two miles from camp. As day had 
now began to dawn, we found it necessary to conceal our- 
selves. We therefore took refuge in a dense thicket, 
which Avas quite narrow, and surrounded by open grounds. 
Here we remained all da}^ eating our "■ corn dodgers," 
smoking, making pipes, and whispering over the Presi- 
<lential election, as we could not talk above a whisper 
■without being discovered or attracting the attention of the 
dogs and. negroes, who were within hearing of ns all day. 
We also speculated a great deal on what we would eat and 
Jrink when we would reach our lines. Dark at length 
■came on. The moon shone dimly through the flying 
■clouds, and we moved out quietly in search of the Orange- 
burg road, which ran directly south from Columbia. 
After wandering around for some time unsuccessfully, we 
•came across two negro boys, who kindly conveyed ns to the 
road, giving us much valuable information. Once on the 
right road, we started olf in liigh glee, marching in single 
iile to avoid making too many tracks. To avoid being dis- 
covered by any white person was now our chief concern, so 
we pledged ourselves to one another not to speak above a 
whisper. 

We had traveled about five miles, when suddenly we 
heard talking ahead of us, and soon discovered a buggy 
meeting us. We were in an open lane, a board fence on 
each side, and escape seemed impossible. I gave the sigiud 
to the others, which was a shrill whistle, and immediately 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 801 

wc all jumped to one side of the road, and fell flat upon 
the ^^round, trusting to the l)rown sage to shield us from the 
observation of the men in the buggy. They drove up 
unsuspectingly, until they came opposite to where we wore 
lying, when their horses smelling us, scared and became 
frantic. The driver struck them with his whip, when they 
l)0unded ahead and soon conveyed them out of sight, when 
we again took the road and made rapid strides on our 
Journey southward. "\\"e met two or three wagons during 
the night, but succeeded in getting out of the road until 
they passed. They were market wagons on their way to 
Columbia. 

We traveled on until day-break, making a distance of 
eighteen miles, when we turned aside and selecting a 
liiding place in the woods we laid down ^and fell asleep. 
We remained in this place all day, but were frightened 
several times at dog's, which were running through the 
woods in search of something to eat. Wo were not afraid 
of the dogs, but only afraid they might bark and lead to 
our discovery. But the day passed off safely to us, and 
when darkness came on we again took up our march. Our 
haversacks by this time were rather light for our health, 
but wo pushed on, hoping to find some friendly negroes by 
Avhom we could get them replenished. 

After marchincj a few miles we discovered a light ahead, 
which we supposed to he in a house, and how to pass it 
without discovery was nov/ a question of serious moment. 
As we cautiously moved up a little nearer, the light disap- 
peared, which caused us to change our minds, and our next 
conclusion was, that it was a rebel picket post. We moved 
up a little closer, and discovered a bridge betv/een us and 
where we had last seen the light, which confirmed us in the 
belief that the bridge was guarded. Captain Strang vul- 
miteered to move up close enough to see if he could 
discover the post and how it was situated. Meanwhile tho 
l)alance of us concealed ourselves in the bushes by the road- 
side. The Captain soon returned and reported that he saw 



S02 HISTORY OF THE 

a man moving abont at the other end of the ])ridge, but 
could see no others, strengthening our conviction tljat the 
])ridge was guarded, and how to got around it was a matter 
that gave ns much trouble. As it was an impenetrable 
thicket on either side, and the banks of the stream very 
high. 

AVhile consulting wliat wo should do, our ears were 
greeted b^" the tread of a "darkie." Captain Turner 
stepped to the roadside and attempted to hail liim in a 
whisper. " Uncle ! Uncle I'' said Turner. " Who dar ?" 
said Harry, in a tone of voice tliat would have awakened 
all the pickets within a mile of us. '"Hush! liush I'' said 
tlie Captain, " tlie picket guards will hear us." Harry wai» 
a little frightened on being hailed so suddenly, and kept on 
liis guard. lie had not yet discovered the rest of us. •' AVho 
ii^ you?" said Harry, and " what does you want with me?" 
'• AVc are Yankee prisouersj" said the Cajitain, "and want 
to talk with you." " 0! bre(<8 de Lord," said Harry, (laying 
down a huge possum which he had suspended by the tail) 
" Come out, you shan't be hurt." 

We learned from Harry that there was no guards at the 
bridge, but that a citizen wlio was on his way to the coast 
for salt had put up there for the night, and that the light 
we saw was the man going to the creek to get water for lii:? 
mules, but that he had gone to sleep in his covered wagon_ 
Ho, Harry leading off, we set out again, feeling greatly 
relieved of our troubles. We traveled about three miles 
]>eyond the bridge, when we came to the plantation where 
Harry's master resided. AVe stepped into the woods by the 
road side and set down to rest, while Harry went into the 
potato patch and gra])b]ed us some? sweet potatoes; and 
after fiiling our sacks with raw potatoes we renewed our 
march and continued it till near daybrieak. 

Before halting, however, wo were suddenly alarmed by a 
signal similar to our own, by the road s'ide, and a man came 
walking out of the bushes dressed hi rebel uniform. He 
iuc|uircd of us something about tlic roads, supposing at 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIxMENT 0. V. V. I. oO-) 

lir.st "we were negroes ; but on discovering that we were 
white \m seemed as much alarmed as we were. For a few 
iseconds both parties were afraid to introduce tlie ol)ject cf 
their mission. At length we inquired of him where he Avas 
going ; he replied he Was going home on a leave of absenct-. 
A\''e then asked him what regiment he belonged to. lie 
replied, to a Georgia regiment, but did not recollect the 
number. We then began to see the " Yankee " in disguise, 
and told Mm that we were Yankee officers escaping from 
(Jolumbia prison, which seemed to relieve him greativ, 
when he acknowledged himself a Yankee also, escaping 
from Charleston, and trying to reacli ISherman's lines in the 
direction of Atlanta. 

AYe could give him no encouragement, as he would have 
two hundred miles to march, under great difficulty. JIc 
expressed a desire to join our party, which we would gladlv 
liave consented to, but feeling that our party was already 
large enough, and being fearfid that enlarging it Avould 
endanger the safety of all, we declined ; but giving him owv 
best wishes, we passed on our way until it became necessary 
to put up for the day. We turned into the first favorabU- 
looking place for concealment, threw our^seives upon the 
ground and soon fell asleep. 

But we did not enjoy our repose long. At daylight a\c 
were suddenly aroused by the rattle of the cars, wliich 
seemed as though they were running over us. On looking 
around us we discovered that we were only a few feet from 
the railroad track, and the train had passed hy without 
any one discovering us. But the train once out of sight, 
we moved further away fiom tlie road, and concealed 
ourselves in a thicket of undergrowth timber, where we 
ventured to kindle a fire and boil our sweet i»otatoes. 
We remained here a!l day without molestation, tliougli in 
sight of a plantation house, where \ve could see the field 
liands at work. Our provisions had again given out, and 
when dark set in we attempted to see some of the negroc^s, 
but as there appeared to be too many hounds about, we 



304 HISTORY OF THE 

concliuled it would be unsafe to remain there, so wc struck 
out for the Orangeburg- road. AVe had got but a short 
distance when the roaring of the hounds were heard in our 
roar, and occasionally the blast of the horn. This alarmed 
us much, but with cudgels in hand, wc made rapid strides 
toward Orangeburg. We soon became convinced that the 
liounds were not on our track, but on a fox trail. 

As we were evidently nearing the town, we were again 
troubled to know how we should get around it and reach 
the river, where we expected to find boats. We struck off 
on a road which we supposed would take us to the river 
south of town, but traveling but a short distance we found 
ourselves in the town, where a retreat was as hazardous as 
anything else. It was about midnight and the moon shone 
In'ightly, so we marched quietly through the village, until 
we reached the southern boundary, where wo chanced to 
meet a "gentleman of color." The white people "slum- 
1)cred and slept." Our colored friend informed us that 
there was no boat at the river, but what was guarded by the 
rebels. We had by this time became exceedingly hungry 
and tired, but no altcrn_ativc was left but to push on 
to some other point. Eranchville was our next hope, 
which was sixteen miles south of Orangeburg and also on 
the Edisto river. So off we started, taking the railroad 
track as the safest route. After traveling in this direction 
tv/o miles, we met a negro man and his wife on their way 
toward Orangeburg. We found them to be friendly and 
trusty. The man, whose name was " Tone}'," lived a mile 
farther down the I'oad, and his wife lived in Orangeburg. 
Toney said if we would go on down near massa's plantation 
and wait, he w ould help liis wife carry up the forage which 
they had evidently been getting olf massa's plantation, and 
return and show us a hiding place, as it vras approaching 
daybreak. \Ve took him at his word, and sure enough, 
Tony soon returned and conducted us to a dense forest, 
where we kindled a fire to warm ourselves, and took a short 
sleep. About o'clock in the morning Toney came out 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 305 

witli a basket of provisions, whicli I assure you we relished. 
Pone, sweet potatoes, rice, boiled and fried, freali pork, 
were luxuries wliicli we did not often indulge in, except the 
pone. 

Tony gave us all the information he could, and stated 
that his master was an " ossifer in the Confederick States." 
He told us if we would remain there until 9 o'clock in the 
evening, he would bring us some more provisions. We 
waited accordingly, but Tony failed to appear. Wo 
concluded something had turned up, which Tony could 
not control, so we struck out for Branchville. It was Sat- 
urday night, and a good time for meeting darkies, but just 
at the time we most needed their aid, v/e failed to meet 
with any. Traveling on until nearly daylight Sunday 
morning, we found ourselves in the village of JJranchville. 
"We hastened with light steps through the village, and 
marching about two miles beyond, daylight compelled us 
to seek refuge in a swampy thicket, where we spent tl e 
Sabbath in making pipes. When night came on again, we 
moved out to the roadside to seek an interview with the 
first darkie we could see, as it would be impossible for us to 
travel any further without something to eat, and besides 
we needed information about the boats. Providentially, wc 
had waited but a few minutes when a half dozen negroes 
came along, to whom we introduced ourselves, and who 
seemed glad to see us. They conveyed us to a hiding place, 
and went to their quarters and cooked us a half bushel of 
iweet potatoes and brought out to us, together with some 
bread and pork, and a lot of raw potatoes to carry with us. 
After eating a hearty supper, we gathered up the balance 
of our '"grub," and " Mose" and tbe otlier darkies leading 
the way, we soon found ourselves at the river, where 
there were two canoes. ^lose owned one of them and his 
master the other, but Mose said, " Lord a massy, take "em 
and welcome." AVe paid them a few dollars in Confederate 
money. Captains Turner and Strang boarded one of the 
boats, which they named the " Continental," and Laird and 

20 



306 HISTORY OF THE 

I took the other, which we named the " Gladiator.'' Bid- 
ding our colored friends good-h^-e, we pushed out from 
shore. 

" The mo<^n was shining silver bright, 
Tbo stars with gloiy crowned the night," 

and no happier set of fellows could be found than wc were 
when we first struck our paddles in the water of the Edisto, 
heading toward our gunboats. We made steamboat speed 
the remainder of the night, and about day-break we tied 
up and camped for the day, in the wilderness of the Edisto. 

Monday night came on, when we again pushed out, and 
made good speed until three o'clock in the morning, when 
we again went ashore and took a sleep until daylight, 
(Tuesday) when we kindled a fire and cooked onr remaining 
potatoes, and sucked our sugar-cane stalks until they wore 
dry. Tuesday night came on, and we resumed our voyage, 
but it now became necessary to hunt for more forage, b^o, 
passing down the river a few miles, wc came to a plantation 
lying near the river, wliich was quite a rare thing, as it was 
principally a wilderness on both tides of the river. 

Here we pushed ashore, tied our boats under cover of the 
bank, and moved up quietly to the negro quarters and 
made ourselves known to darkie.s, who were glad to see 
''de Yankees" they had heard so much about; and after 
becoming satisfied that wc had no '•horns" and that we 
were their friends, they rallied all the negroes on the plan- 
tation. "Women and children came out to see us, each one 
bringing some token of their kind regard. Even the 
siuallest child had a potato to give us. By these negroe? 
our haversacks were again replenished with grub, but they 
could give us but little information about what was ahead 
of us. AVe started witli onr treasures to our boats ngain. 
Just as I stepped into my boat it tij-ped up with me, throw- 
ing me into the rapid current, and I should evidently liave 
drowned (being no swimmer) but for a bough of a tree 
which reached to the surface of the water, and which I 
chanced to get held of, puHirg myself up and climbiug up 



SEVENTY-EIGUTII REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 307 

the limb. I again got on shore, and soon wc were in onr 
boats and under way. But as I was wet and the niglit 
cohl, wc only traveled a few miles until we went ashore, 
made a lire, dried my clothes, and slept the balance of the 
night. 

jSText day we resolved to run the risk of traveling in day- 
light, so we pushed out and lun at good speed ncarlv a!l 
day, undisturbed save the occasional plunging in of a huge 
alligator from the shore, which sometimes endangered the 
safety of our boats. As night approached we were confi- 
dent that wc were nearing a bridge, which we had beeii 
previously informed was guarded by rebel pickets, though 
we could not learn whether we could run our boa's under 
tlic bridge undiscovered, or whether we should be compelled 
to leave them and iiank the guards, running our chances to 
get others below the bridge. Our only char.ces vroro to 
"go it blind,"' or to see some negroes and get the necessary 
information. 

Darkness at length camo on, and wo had sailed but a 
short distance until vre heard talkirig on the shore in the 
woods, ne:ir the river. Supposing it to be the voice of 
negroes, as it is hard to distinguish the ditlerouco bctweeii 
the language of the negro and that of the white num in 
that country, we pushed ashore, tied our boats, aud started 
up to meet our colored IVioiids, but had got bu.t a i^hoi t 
distance wlien the dogs pitched at us fiercely, and tlic men 
began to hiss them on ; and advancing rapldJy upon us, wc 
soon discovered that we were entj'appcd. 

The party consisted of two white men ami two negroes, 
armed Avith double-barrel shot-guns, accouipanied by two 
dogs. They demanded of us who wc were and where 
going. We represented ourselves as Confederates on a 
leave of absence, from the Thirty-Second Georgia. They 
however mistrusted us, and demanded our papers. 1 took 
a piece of paper from my pocket to make believe I had a 
furlough; but none of the party could read, v>hieh wa-^ 
well enough, as there was nothing on it to read. They 



308 HISTORY OP THB 

expressed themselves willing to let us go, if they conld 
do 80 without their officers finding it out ; but said thej 
were under orders to arrest everybody travelincr without a 
pass, and sent for a man in the neighborhood to come and 
examine our pass. We then told them who we were, as 
escape seemed impossible, on account of the hounds and 
other difiiculties. We were then taken to a house on the 
j>hmtation and put under guard, and the women went to 
work, killed some chickens, went into the field and pulled 
some corn, shelled and ground it on a little hand mill, 
])uked us a pone from the meal, and made us a supper of 
chicken, pone and sweet potatoes. 

We were now a hundred and sixtj-five miles from where 
we started, and thirty miles south of Charleston. The next 
morning we were taken to Charleston on the first train. 
The family where we had stayed all night, being of th(5 
poorer class, expressed a good deal of sympathy for us. 
One of the women remarked to Captain Strang, "Youens 
arc better lookin' than our folks." 

At Charleston we were introduced to the jail and locked 
up in close contiuement, our rations consisting of a pot of 
mush a day for all four of us, with nothing to eat it with 
but our pocket knives and fingers. We were only kept 
here a few days, however, when we were put upon the car* 
and returned to Columbio, from whence we started. 

Very truly yours, 

W. W. McCakty. 



ATLAi^TA, AXD SHERAIAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA 

General Scott, commanding the Second Brigade, was 
taken prisoner early in the action of the 22d. Colonel 
Wiles took command of the Brigade in the midst of the 
iiottest of the engagement. His tall form conld be seen at 
all times, everywhere encouraging the men to stand firm. 
And firm they stood, like immovable rocks; and nothing 
but the obstinate stand and desperate determination to hold 
tlielr position or die there, saved the Seventeenth Army 
Cor[>s, ]^ever in the history of the war did troops do 
harder fighting than the Second Brigade that afternoon. 

A few days after the liglit of the 22d, the Corps aban- 
sloned the left and moved to the right of the army, where, 
for several days in sight of Atlanta, they fought with the 
oR'emy and kept pouring shells into the city. 

They next abandoned th<eir works on the right, and 
H;aoved ^i-ith the whole array, except th« Twentieth Coqis, 
Ko the rear of Atlanta, by way of Jon-eshoro, which gave 
f'ls possession of the city. In the fight at Joncsboro, George 
Harris, of Company E, was killed. This w^as the only caen- 
iiJty. He was a bruve soldier and a most worthy man. He 
loft a wife and one child to raonrn his loss. 

In addition to those killed uj)on the battle-field of the 
22d, very many dievl of their wounds. Among those not 
snentionod in the z-ecords who were killed on that day, are 
Francis Porter, Orderly Sergeant of Company' G, and pn- 
viitc E. Gallagher, of Company K, both men of marked 



310 HISTORY OF THE 

bravery and popular favor, loved and esteemed by all ; they 
have g'one to their reward, engaged in defense of humanity 
and the great principles of national honor and liberty. 

After the city fell into our hands it was made a military 
depot, all the inhabitants v^'ere ordered either Korth or 
South, about an equal number going each way. Kothing- 
but the tramp of the soldiers avhs heard by night or day, in 
the shattered, bnllet-riddled and desolated city. The 
Seventy-Eighth encamped south of the city, ixml enjoyed 
three or four weeks rest. 

The rebel General Hood feeling sore over the loss of 
Atlanta, determined npon a bold niove that wovdd again 
give him possession of the city, lie thei'efore decided to 
march his whole army into Tennessee, cutting Sherman's- 
communications on his way, destroying all his depots of 
supplies, and thus compelling Sherman to leave Atlanta, 
and follow him into Tennessee. This was just what 
Slierman desired, and he moved after him with the Fourth, 
Fifteenth, Fourteenth and Seventeenth Corps, and drove 
him as far north as suited his purposes in making the grand 
raid, through Georgia. 

When he had driven Ilood beyond harm's way, he 
returned and n:iade all haste to put his army in readiness 
for the maich to the sea. 

On the Biorning of the 15th of ISTovember the army left. 
All the business part of the city was destroyed; being set 
on fire it was left to the mercy of the flames. ISo one was 
left to oppose them or check the v/ide spreading ruin . 
There has been nothing like it in the history of the world. 
A city deserted by every inhabitant, the angry flames leap- 
ing heavenward and from building to building, rejoicing in 
their mad reign, where man and happiness once dwelt in 
fond embrace. 

Considered as a spectacle, the mareli of General Sherman's 
iirmy surpassed, in some respects, all marches in history^ 
The flames of a city lighted its beginning; desolation, 
which in one sense is sublime, marked its progress to the 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMEXT 0. V. V. I. " 3ll 

sea. Its end was a beautiful possession — a city spared 
from doom. Uuderneatli smiling skies, cooled by airs 
balmy as the breatli of a northern summer, the army of the 
West, slowly transforming itself into an army of the East, 
moved from sunset to sunrise, through a territory rich in 
all things wherein the theories of statisticians have declared 
i t poor. Food in gardens, food in cellars, stock in fields, 
istock in barns, poultry everywhere, appeared in the distance, 
disappeared in the presence, and was borne away upon the 
knapsacks and bayonets oi thousands of soldiers. 

A new El Dorado, too, was this heart of the South. 
Money — bright gold, shining silver — plucked from closets, 
and stockings, and burial places by the roadside, enriched 
the invaders. The soldier has his whims — the tail- 
feathers of peacocks drooped and scintillated along the 
moving columns, from the crests of infantrymen and 
troopers. 

Jokes, laughter and songs, and the tasting of the sweets 
of honey and sorghum, relieved the weary tramp, tramp- 
ing over fields, roads and bridges. The cavalry swept the 
pathway of guerrillas; the clang of the hoofs and sabres 
resounded through the glens to right, to left and in the 
front. Swift and terrible, and not always just, were the 
strokes of their arms and the works of their hands. Pio- 
neers along a march of desolation forty miles in width and 
three hundred in length, their labor was too swift to be 
discriminatiug. 

The great army — over the lands and into the dwellings 
of the poor and rich alike, through towns and cities — 
like a roaring wave, swept and paused, reveled and surged 
on. In the daj^time the splendor, the toil, the desolation 
of the march ; in the nightime the brilliancy, the gloom, 
the music, the joy and slumber of the camp. Memorable 
the music that " mocked the moon " of November on the 
soil of Georgia ; sometimes a triumphant march, sometimes 
a waltz, again an old air, stirring the heart alike to recol- 
lection and hope. Floating out of throats of brass to the 



312 HISTORY OF THE 

cars of soldiers in their blankets and Generals in their tentg, 
these times hallowed the eyes of all who listened. Sitting 
before his tent in the glow of a camp fire one evening, 
General Sherman let his cigar go out, to listen to an air 
that a distant band was playing. The General turned to 
one of his officers : " Send an orderly to ask that band to 
play that tune again." A little while and the band received 
the word. The tune was " The Blue Juniata," with exquis- 
ite variations. The band played it again, even more beau- 
tifully than before. Again it ceased, and then, oft' to the 
right, nearly a quarter of a mile away, the voices of some 
soldiers took it up Avitli words. The band, and still another 
played a low accompaniment ; camp after camp began sing- 
ing; the music of " The Blue Juniata" became for a few 
minutes, the oratorioof half an army. Back along the whole 
wide pathway of this grand march, from border to coast, the 
eye catches glimpses of scenes whose poetic images an 
American, five years ago, would have thought never could 
have been revived from the romantic past. Pictures swarm 
in fields and glens, and by the banks of rivers. A halt at 
high noon beside a village, a besieging of houses by the 
troops, soldiers emerging from the doorways and backyards, 
bearing quilts, plates, poultry and pigs, beehives 'attacked, 
honey in the hands and smearing the faces of the boys, 
hundreds of soldiers poking hundreds of bayonets in the 
corners of 3'ards and gardens, after concealed treasures ; here 
and there a shining prize, and shouting and scrambling, and 
a merry division of the spoils. In the background, 
women with praying hands and beseeching lips unheeded. 
iN'ight near a railroad depot — a roar of fires, a shouting 
of voices, thousands of men ripping up ties and rails, heat- 
ing them, twisting them, casting them down, axes at work, 
the depot buildings and wood piles a blaze, a truly pictur- 
esque and tumultuous scene. 

The march by day — winding columns, glittering 
muskets, glowing flags. Generals' cavalcades, wagon trains, 
stragglers, and thousands of negroes in the rear, stretching 



BEVENTT-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 313 

over miles, a country of level fields, crossed by stream?^, 
broken occasionally by swamps and patches of forest, the 
distant smoke of fires, ragged villagers and ragged hovels 
by the way, at intervals a woman's head peeping out from 
a door or a window, quickly closed ; at times a colored 
family, voluble with questions, thanking God for the 
advent, and joining in the march with their kind in the 
rear. 

The camp by night — a faint glow of camp fires through 
miles of darkness, the cooking of suppers everywhere, 
laughter and talk, card playing, smoking, music, and the 
sounds of horses hoofs near and far, mess tents, a murmur 
with a good cheer, growing silence, a fainter glow of fires, 
a tumbling into blankets, slumber in all the field. 

Clank, clank, through the dark, through the forest, go 
the cavalrymen's sabres. Their marches cease not night 
or day ; they go forth to discover, repair or surprise. Before 
the day they have sent a guerrilla party headlong, or have 
anticipated the dawn with an illumination. The streams 
are cool and clear, by many a clifl' and wood. Here, 
'' naked and not ashamed,'' a hundred soldiers bathe within 
the waters. Their clothes and arms are flung upon the 
banks; their bodies gleam and splash among the ripples; 
their laughter rings harsh and loud, low and musical, while 
moving ranks npcn the bridge above, go by. Down by 
towns and cities, and plantations, to the sea, the pageant 
and the wrath move to the new conquest, which at last is 
ours, and the curtain falls upon another act of a drama, 
which finds us in the rich and beautiful city of Savannah. 

ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS OF SHERMAN's GRAND MARCH. 

The most pathetic scenes occur upon our line ot march 
daily and hourly. Thousands of negro women join the 
column, some carrying household truck ; others, and many 
of them there are, who bear the heavy burden of children 
in their arms, while older boys and girls plod by their side. 
All these women and children are ordered back, heart- 
rending though it may be, to refuse them liberty. They 



31-1 niSTOIlY OF THE 

won't go. One begs that she may go to see her husband 
and eliildren at Savannah ; long years ago she was forced 
from them and soUL Anotlier has heard that her boy was 
in Macon, and she is " done gone wid grief goin on four 
years." 

But the majority accept the advent of the Yankees as 
the fuliilhiient of the millennial prophecies. The " day of 
Jubilee," the hope and prayer of a lifetime, has come. 
They cannot be made to understand that they must renuiin 
beliind, and they are satisfied only wlien General Sherman 
tells tliem — as he does every day, that we shall come back 
for them some time, and that they must be patient until the 
proper hour of deliverance comes. 

Tlie other day a woman with a child in her arms was 
working her way along among the teams and cro\^■ds of 
cattle and horsemen ; an officer called to her kindly : 
"- Where are you going, Aunty ?" She looked up into his 
iace with a hopeful, beseeching look, and replied "I'se gwine 
whar you'se gwine, jMassa." 

At a house a few miles from Milledgeville we halted for 
an hour. In an old hut I found a negro and his wife, both 
of them over sixty years old. In the talk which ensued, 
jiothing was said which led me to suppose that either of 
them were anxious to leave their mistress, who, by the way, 
wa.s a sullen, cruel looking woman, when all at once the 
old negress straightened herself up, and her face, which a 
moment before was almost stupid in its expression, assumed 
a tierce, almost devilish aspect. 

Tointing her shining black finger at the old man crouched 
in tlie corner of the fire-place, she hissed out : "What for 
you set dar ; you spose I wait sixty years for nut tin ? 
JJon't yer see de door open? Ise foUer my chile; I not 
8tay. Yes, nodder day I goes long wid people ; 3'es, sar, I 
walks till I drop in my tracks." A more terrible sight I 
never beheld. I can think of nothing to compare with it, 
except Charlotte Gu&hjuan's " Meg Merrilcs." Eembrandt 



SEVEXTY-EIOIITH REGIMENT O.V. V. I. 315 

only could liuvc painted tlic scene, "witli its dramatic sur- 
I'Dundings. 

It was near this place tiiat several factories were burned. 
It was odd to see the delight of the negroes at the destruc- 
tion of places known only to them as task-houses, wliere 
they had groaned under the hisli. 

We have had very little diiiicully in crossing' tlie Ogeeclice. 
The Seventeenth Coi'ps covered the Ogeeche river, whore a 
light bridge was oid\' partially destroyed. It was easily 
ivpaired, so that the infantry and cavalry could pass over it, 
Avhile the wagons and cavalry used the pontoons. The 
Ogeeche is al)out sixty yards in width at this })oint. It is 
approached on the northern or vrestcrn side through 
swamps, which would be impassable were it not for the 
sandy soil, which iiacks solid when water covers the roads, 
although in ])laecs there are treacherous quicksands which 
we are obliged to corduroy. 

IN A roc. 

Soon the fog, which settles like a blanket over the swamps 
and forests of the ri\'er bottoms, shut down upon the scene; 
and so dense and dark was it that torches were of little use, 
and men v^^ere directed here and there by the voice. 

"Jim, are you there ? '*' shouts one. 

" ^'es, I am liere," is the im[)aticnt answer. 

" "Well, go straight ahead." 

" Straight ahead ? vrhere the thunder is straight ahead? " 

AN OIlKaXAL CUARACTEK. 

At this station we came across an old man named Wells, 
Avho was the most original character I ever met. lie was 
depot master in the days when there vras a railroad hero, 
lie is a shrewd old man and seemed to understand the 
jnerits of the war question perfectly. He said : 

" They say you are retreating, but it is the strangest sort 
of a retreat I over saw. Why, dog bite 'em, the newspa- 
pers have been lying in this way all along. They are 
always whipping the Federal armies, and they always fall 
back after the battle is over. It was that 'ere idea that first 



316 HISTORY OF THE 

opened my eyes. Our army always whipping the Feds., 
and we always fell back. I always told them it was a d — d 
luimbug, and now I know it, for here you are, right on old 
John Wells' place ; hogs, potatoes, corn and fences all gone. 
I don't find any fault. I expected it all. 

" Jeff Davis and the rest talk about splittin' the Union. 
Why if South Carolina had gone out by herself, she would 
have been split in four pieces b}^ this time. Splittin' the 
Union ! Why the State of Georgia is bein' split right 
through from end to end. It's these rich fellers who arc 
making tliis war, and keeping their precious bodies out of 
harm's way. There's John Franklin, went through here the 
other day, running away from your army. I could have play- 
ed dominoes on his coat tail. There's my poor brother, sick 
with small-pox at Macon, working for eleven dollars a 
month, and hasn't got a cent of the d — n stuff for a year. 
'Leven dollars a month, and eleven thousand bullets a min- 
ute. I don't believe in it. 

" I heard as how they cut down the trees across your road 
up country, and burnt the bridges ; why, (dog bite their 
hides) one of you Yankees can take up a tree and carry it 
off, top and all ; and there's that bridge you put across the 
river in less than two hours — they might as well try to 
fitop the Ogcecho as you Yankees. The blasted rascals who 
burnt this 'ere bridge thought they did a big thing; a nat- 
ural horn fool cut in two had more sense in either end than 
any of them." 

THE prisoners' PEN AT MILLEN. 

As mentioned above, this place is five miles above Milieu 
Junction. A space of ground some three hundred feet 
square, enclosed by a stockade, without any covering what- 
soever, was the hole where thousands of our brave soldiers 
have been confined for many months past. Exposed to 
heavy dews, the biting frosts, the pelting rains, without so 
much as a board, or a tent even to protect these poor naked 
fellows, who were almost always robbed of their clothing 
when captured. Some of them had adopted a wretched 



SEVENTY-EIGUTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 317 

alternative, holes in the ground, into which they crept at 
times. What wonder that we found the evidence that seven 
hundred and fifty liad died there. From what misery did 
death release them I 

I can realize it all now, as I could not even when listen- 
ing to the stories of prisoners who had fled from this hel); 
escaped the devils in hot pursuit — foiled the keen scent of 
the track hounds put upon their path. Here is the use- 
lessly cruel pen where my brothers have been tortured with 
exposure and starvation. God will certainly visit the 
authors of this crime with his terrible lightning, Jeff 
Davis knew that the Northern people would see the con- 
dition of the victims of Belle Island. 

How fearful must be the treatment of those who are 
removed far from the hope of exchange. You at the 
ISTorth may not feel the necessity of retaliation, and may 
continue to clothe warmly, feed plentifully, and com- 
fortable house the rebel prisoners who are happier far than 
if free with tlieir commands, but you must not expect those 
who have and tliose who may endure these agonies, to feel 
or auct Avith the same extravagance of generosity. 

KILLING BLOOD - HOUNDS. 

A significant feature of this campaign which was not 
))efore mentioned in this diary, received a marked illustra- 
tion yesterday. Except in a few instances, private res- 
idences have not been destroyed. Yesterday we passed 
the plantation of Mr. Stubbs. The house, cotton gin, 
press, corn ricks, stable, everything that could burn, was 
in flames, and in the door-yard lay the dead bodies of several 
blood-hounds that had been used to track and pull down 
negroes and our escaped prisoners. And wherever our 
army has passed, everything in the shape of a dog ha.s 
been killed. The soldiers and officers are determined that 
no flying fugitives, white men or negroes, shall be followed 
by track-hounds that come withiu reach of their powder 
and ball. 



318 HISTORY OF THE 

iiEviEW OF Sherman's march through georoia — from the 

SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT BY MAJOR JAMES S. REEVES. 

Savannah, Ga., December 21, 1864. 
T. M. Stevenson : 

Dear Sir — Thus ends onr third campaign since the 
Seventy-Eighth Regiment O. A'. Y. I. left Ohio, in May 
hist. Onr marcli irom Clifton, Tennessee, to Dig Shanty, 
(xeorgia, was withont opposition, for the rebel army luul 
been beaten back, and we found it at a stand npon Kenesaw 
]^[onntain. Then commenced a series of flank movements 
which bailled the rebel Generals, and forced them back to 
Athinta, Vv'here for a time they held their position. Again 
General SherinaJi cut loose from Ins base, and drew Gen- 
eral llood into a battle, and defeated him at Jonesboro, and 
captured Atlanta. 

It was now the turn of tlie rebels to play the same game, 
and cut Sherman oil and force him to leave Atlanta, and 
by a rapid movement Hood crossed the Chattahoochie, 
struck the railroad in Sherman's rear, and cut it at liig 
Shanty, then moving north along the road, they tore u[> 
the track, swee[iing everything as they went, until they 
came to Aitoona, wliere General (^:^rse made a gallant 
defense, and tliey met with a signal and bloody repulse. 
<~)ur army was put in motion, and moved rapidly after them 
througli Aitoona, Etowah, Kingston and tova.rd liome. 

Then we crossed over by a tedious night march to Adairs-- 
ville, and pushed on to Kesaca, and sending our Corps over 
the mountain, turned the rebels from tlie railroad, drow 
them through Snake Creek (jap, then through Ship Ga]», 
past Summerviile, and over into Alabama. We rested on 
Little river, near Gaylesville, then moved southward, crossed 
the Coosa, and passing by Cave spring, Adairsville, Djdlas, 
and Lost ^Mountain, reached Smyrna Church, near ?.Iarietta. 

"Willie marching up the road we repaired it, and Avhik' 
Tve rested at Smynux trains ran from Louisville to Atlanta. 
(Jur army was paid, clothed, supphed with ration?; and 
rested; the teams and wagons made good, and everything 



SEVENTY-EIGIITII KEGIMENT 0. V. V. I. ol9 

prepared for another movement. Our sick liacl been sent 
ISTorth, reinforcements received, transportation cut down, 
citizens, State, Sanitary and Christian Commission agents, 
refugees and contrabands were ordered North, condemned 
property was destroyed, and the Last mail received. 

Finally the last train of cars moved olF, and the Avholc 
army went to the road and destroyed it from Atlanta to 
Chattanooga, and then marched to Atlanta. We stopped 
there but a day, and in that time destroj-ed the depots, all 
Government property, and everything Avhich could aid a 
rebel in doing mischief, then l)id adieu to the place, and 
pursuing the McDonough's road, plunged farther into 
"Dixie."' We moved in columns on diii'erent roads, and 
went as four stalwart mowers would move across a field, 
mowing a swath fifty miles "wide. The Seventeenth Corps 
passed through Monticello, and struck the Central Georgi;i- 
Railroad at Gordon. Another column Avcnt to Milledge- 
ville. At Gordon we rested a short tiino, and heard cannon- 
ading toward Macon, and learned soon after tliat Hardee's old 
troops came out from ]Macon to punish the " Yankees ; " a 
fight ensuetl and they hurried back to ]Macon with the 
certainty that they had lost three hundred men killed and 
as man}' more wounded in the skirmish, and that was thu 
last we saw of the rebels. 

.Vfter destroying the railroad from Gordon to ^Nlilledge- 
ville, and some miles in the direction of Macon, we started 
for Savannah. Wlien w^e crossed the Ocmulgee river wo 
destroyed the Government factories there, and all the milla 
on the road. Foraging tlie country as wo went, we fared 
sumptuously, for we found the land flowing with milk, lion- 
ey and Confederate scrip. Our jaded horses am,! mules were 
turned oat, and fine animals conscripted to serve in tlieir 
stead; and we progressed hnely, and w\axed fat and jolly. 

The Governor of Georgia fumed, and delivered hiniseh'' 
of a proclamation, calling upon every male citizen to rally 
around the State flag: rise in their might; burn their 
crops; destroy tlieir food; turn loose their hogs; run olt 



320 HISTORY OF TUE 

their liorses and cattle ; fell trees across the road ; burn the 
bridges, and anuihilate Sherman and his adventurous 
Yankees. The Legislature had already passed an act call- 
ing out the State troops, and making conscripts of all men 
and boys, but by a special chiusc exempted themselves, then 
adjourned to Macon. We pursued the even tenor of our 
way unmolested, for the people did not make any haste to 
obey the Governor, and we crossed the Oconee, Camanchec, 
Little and Great Ogeeche rivers, and arrived at Millen, 
where a branch road runs to Augusta. A small body of 
rebel State troops had thrown up some earthworks at this 
point, but fled as we approached. After burning the depot 
and tearing up the road about fifteen miles toward 
Augusta, we traveled on and found the country growing 
more flat and swampy, and had to corduroy our roads the 
most of the way from there to Savannah. All the cotton, 
cotton gins and presses were destroyed along the entire 
route. At Station Xo. 2 we met a force entrenched with 
two pieces of artillery, and found our road obstructed by 
fallen timber. Our advance charged their works, when 
they fled without a flght, and we met no more resistance 
until we were within seven miles of the city, and ran 
against their line and battled. 

Our lilies were formed and we rested until morning, when 
we found that the rice swamps, which extended from the 
Savannah to the Ogeeche rivers, (and become more trouble- 
some as we approached the coast,) had been flooded, and 
the roads were all defended. Swinging around to the 
right, the Third Division took position east of the canal, on 
the plank road, near Silk Hope. While our line extended 
far to the right, a portion of the Fifteenth Corps went down 
the Great Ogeeche river, and after a brief engagement 
captured Fort McAlister, and opened lhe way to our fleet 
and we were again in communication with our friends. 

In so long and interesting a march, we could not help 
meeting with many incidents worthy of special notice; 
were they half noted it would fill a volume, and I can only 



SEVENTY-EianiH REGIMENT 0. V. V. L '321 

skim over the ground to tell you that we were there, and 
that now we are here. The rice plantations are made t» 
inchide a strip of land, which extends for miles, and which 
is elevated a few feet above the general level. It is compar- 
atively dry, and affords ground for the fine mansion, gin 
houses, negro quarters and rice mills. 

The face of the country is generally undulating, and 
much of it is marshy. The low lands are laid off in squares 
of perhaps five hundred acres each, divided by embank- 
ments of earth, and so arranged as to be subject to inunda- 
tion at the will of the planter.. A more than ordinary 
depression of the surface extends in a semi-circle around 
Savannah, about eight miles from the city, and by closing 
the sluices, the rebels had formed a water barrier to the 
advance of our troops, about one thousand yards wide, and 
hid b.iilt forts and planted cannon at all the accessible 
points, and held us at bay. 

General Sherman's first care was to put himself in com- 
munication with Fort McAllister, capturing two hundred 
atid lii'ty men, and twenty-two pieces of artillery, and 
having received a supply of bread and forage sufficient for 
the entire army, he sent the rebel General notice that if tlie 
city was not surrendered within three days he would take 
it. The rebel troops immediately crossed the Savannah 
river, leaving their cannon in the forts and city, an immense 
amount of ammunition, ordnance stores, eighteen fine loco- 
motives and seven railroad cars, several steam vessels, and a 
very large amount of other Government property. 

Over two hundred pieces of cannon were surrendered, 
the most of them in fine order. In the thirty-seven days 
that we were marching, we were completely cut off from 
our mails, newspapers, telegraph, express and reinforce- 
ments — yet a more contented, fearless, determined and 
confident body of men could not be found on earth — so 
completely were we in possession of the land, that our 
foraging parties would go full fifteen miles aei^oss the 

21 



123 nifTORT OF THE 

country, and but few men were captured. The Third 
Division lost a few men, who were picked up, and sixteen 
men were wounded and one killed during the short siege. 

The Seventy-Eighth Ohio lost two by capture, but fortu- 
nately had none killed or wounded, although constantly 
exposed to the shells of the enemy, while opposite tho 
rebel forts, and in the skirKiisli line. 

Savannah is a large and beautiful cit}^, and was of lar 
greater importance to the rebels than was supposed, Iloro, 
for the first time, the people are submissive, and acknowl- 
edge our power. In other places they were defiant and 
insolent, but we see now the evidence that the conviction 
is deep, that our army ca7i go over the Confederacy at will, 
and they have no army to stand before it. 

We now hold the key to Charleston, Augusta, Columbia^ 
and can move upon either point. The health of the army 
is good. There are but thirty-four sick, and two A\'ounded 
men in the Third Division hospital. Only forty-eight sick 
and wounded men were sent av/ay. IIow long we will 
remain at Savannah, or where we will go, Vy'ill be learned iu 
time. 

On the llth of January the three years of the organi/'a- 
tion of the Seventy-Eighth will expire, and then gome of the 
officers and the non-veteran soldiers will go home. 



S.VVAN"XAII, BEAUFORT, POCOTALIGO, COLITM* 
BIA AN^I} MARCH TO TAYLORSYILLE AND 
GOLDSBORO, XORTII CAROLIN"A. 

In tho precedln^^ cliaptor we j^ave a mere outline of thf. 
Ri.irch tui'oiig'li Genri^ia to tSavaiiiiah, wliore wo encamped 
;i few days. The iiiarck v.'as an entire success. The res^i- 
!ueut lost but lew lueu. Joel liunyan, killed at Saiidere- 
ville; Robert Hanson, taken prisoner, and has not been 
iieard of since ; Cyrus Trace, prisoner, was exchanged ; 
private Townsend died near Savannah ; Josep'h Gleason 
and William F. ITuflnian died in Savannah. 

Savannah is the Largest, and was, previous to the rebellion, 
the most flourishing commercial city of the State. It is^ to 
the cast what ]S"ew Orleans is to the west. The city is built 
on a sandy plain, about forty feet above lov/ water mark. 
A con^ldorablo e\'t;e!!t of rice swamp lauils lie in its rear, 
the exhalations from which renler the city unhealthy at 
certain seasons of the year. The streets are wide, unpavcd 
and s lOily, but lali out with groat regularity, and well 
shade 1 with trecM. There are twenty-four public Rrpiares, 
each of considerable extent, and all closely shaded with 
Bride o.^ India tree ^. Ghiss}^ promenades run through llio 
middle of two of the streets, Brjad and Bay, having ampld 
thoroughfares (>:\ each side. 

Xe.irly all the buildings are built of brick, and all of verj 
neat design and fiaish, and give evidence ot great wealth. 



324 HISTORY OF THE 

The city contaius a new custom house, huilt in 18G0. It is 
one hundred and ten I'eet in length, lilty-tvvo Ibet in width, 
costing the government ^173,000. 

There is also a State arsenal, theater, court house, a citv 
exchange, artillery armory, jail and other public buildings, 
all of costly and imposing ap[)carance. There are fourteen 
Protestant and three Catholic Churches, a Jewish Syna- 
gogue, and a public library, containing seven thousand 
voknnes. 

The public squares are ornamented with many interesting 
monuments. One erected to the memory of C en era! Green, 
and one imposing structure in honor of Pulaski, who fell 
in an attack upon Savannah in October, 1770, then held by 
the Britisli. 

The whole space between Savannah and the ocean is cut 
up and intersected by rivers, creeks, cuts,.«wamps and open- 
ings. 

The city is the most tci.utifnl we have seen in tlic Sontli^ 
The most wealthy and enterprising, and a present population 
of 25,000 inluibit'iuts, who manifest less malignancy toward 
the Yaidvce than we Inwe seen elsewhere. We saw only 
one evidence of disrespect, which was iu the burial of the 
prisoners of our army. 

We iind quite a number bnried outside their fortifications 
by the wayside. General G. IT. Wiles, commanding the 
Second Brigade, had a strong stockade ]>laced around the 
graveyard^ whicli was about one aci-o in extent. Thus a 
friendly hand, too late for relief, came finally to do honor to 
their last resting place, by placing around' them an enclo- 
8ure that would guard, their sacred dust from the feet of 
inhuman and barbarous rebels. Surely their friends will 
feel lasting gratitude to General Wiles for this kind regard 
of those who have died from unfriendly neglect and barba- 
rous enmity. 

The city of Savannah was entered by our troops on the 
morning of the 21st of December. General Hardee, in 
comman.l of the rebel forces, anticipating the general 



SEVENTT-EIQIITn REGIMENT 0. V. V. L 325 

n?Ranlt wliich General Sherman had ordered that morning, 
csospcd witli the main body of his infantry toward Charles- 
ton, the night of the 20th. 

The rebel iron-clads were blown np and the navy-yard 
burned. 

The captures inclnd3 eight hundred prisoners, one hun- 
dred and fifty guns, thirteen locomotives in good order, one 
hundred ami ninety cars, a large supply of ammunition and 
materials of war, and thirty-three thousand bales of cotton 
safely stored in warehouses. 

LETTER FROM THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH. 

PocoTALiGO Station, S. and C. Railroad, 1 
January 18th, 1865. j 

Boar Editor; — Short and pleasant was our stay at the 
beautiful and non-lo^-al Forest City of Georgia. The 17th 
Corps left it the evening of the 5th, and marched to Thun- 
derbolt, iive miles from Savannah, and next morning the 
Third Division, commanded by General Leggett, embarked 
upon steamers, passed down the Wilmington river and 
through the "Warsaw sound, and entered the rough ocean. 
After a stormy, rough sail, landed at Beaufort at 10 P. M., 
and next morning encamped about four miles from the town. 
Beaufort is pleasantly located on the Beaufort river, Port 
Royal Island, and was the home of aristocracy. It was a 
place of great wealth and influence. Every dwelling is a 
palace built in costly style, presenting an air of neatness, 
comfort and pleasure. It was captured by our troops, 
ISTovember 7th, 1802. All the inhabitants left but ©ne, and 
lie says he would have acted the fool like the rest, but was 
too drunk at the time. This one man still remains, and is 
doing a flourishing mercantile business. The town i^ now 
tsettled with iSTorthern families, who are, some in the service 
of the Government, some engaged in mercantile pursuits, 
and some are becoming immensely wealthy in the cultivation 
of cotton upon plantations either bought or rented of the 
Government. The Island is ten or twelve miles square; the 



828 HISTORY OF TUB 

soil very rich. Part of it has hecn sold to Northern men, 
and part appropriated hy the Govcnimer.t for educational 
purposes, and as the establishment of schools for the contra- 
bands. There are about one hundred teachers, principally 
ladies from the North, employed for the purpose. 

The people hearing so much about Sherman's army and 
its vandalism, were here somewljut frightened v,^hvn the 
Seventeenth Corps arrived; even the Post Paymaster buried 
the few "greenbacks" he had on hand. P)ut the men 
proved themselves, by their conduct, that they could and 
would respect the proper!}^ of loyal people ; although ready 
and quick to destroy and lay waste in rebeldom, they wero 
as ready and f|uick to let alone when among loyal people. 
This fact shows that our army is certainly the best disci- 
plined in the world, and that they act from necessity and by 
motives of duty and principle, whether among the loyal or 
rebellious. We received nothing but kindness, good will 
and favor from the people in Peanfcrt, and received full ra- 
tions for the men and forage for tlie horses, for the first time 
iu nine months. Quartermasters and Government agents 
seem much more accommodating and obliging than in the 
West, and rations are of much better quality. 

We remained upon the Island from the 7th to the 18th^ 
when we broke up camp, bid farewell to the pleasant land 
and marched to the Coosa river, which bounds the Island 
on the north, and is navigable for the largest boats. The 
rebels made their appearance on the opposite shore, and 
opposed our crossing as they had successfully done to 
Foster and others. The opposite shore was strongly forti- 
fied, and had been the object of frequent attacks by our 
gunboats and iron-clads. About 10 P. M. in the darkness 
of the night, the Sixty-Eighth and Seventy-Eighth Ohio 
embarked on skifls and crossed without opposition. The 
rebels, learning they were of Sherman's army, fled without 
firing a gun. By dawn of day the pontoons w^ere stretched 
across the river, and the remainder of the Division and 
trains crossed and were again in rebeldom. 



SKVENTT-KianTH REaEMENT 0. T. V. 1. 327 

Bofore day-Ja^\m, while standing on the river bank hold- 
ing my horse, a stranger came forward from the crowd and 
addre33ed mo. I did not at first recognize hira, but he 
proved to be Captain C. M. Roberts, who had just returned 
from an absence of over two years, to his regiment, who, 
after crossing and exchanging a few salutations with officers 
and men, entered upon iiis official duties by taking command 
of a company ; he, with his grave but pleasant face, soldierly 
bearing and respectful manner, is more than welcomed back 
to his regiment. 

The Third Division, under command of General Legget% 
with his two best Brigade commanders, General Force, 
Ji'irst, and Colonel G. F. Wiles, Second Brigade, moved 
forward. Skirmishing soon commenced, the rebels rapidiy 
falling back to fortifications on the opposite side of an exten- 
sive rice swamp. Colonel Wiles quickly deployed the 
Twentieth Ohio as skirmishers, in front of the enemy'a 
works, which opened a brisk fire. Artillery was also placed 
in position, which opened with good effect upon their workf. 
The First Brigade, under General Force, accompanied by 
General Leggctt, moved upon another road, which flanked 
two strong lines of works. These the rebels left and fell 
back to a third line, near Sundown ; the Division moved 
upon the third line. The Forty-Fifth Illinois being 
deployed as skirmishers here, lost several killed and 
wounded ; among the killed was General Force's picket 
officer. The approach of night prevented farther opera- 
tions, and the Division encamped. Next morning our 
Division moved forward — having now the advance for 
three days, they found the strongest works we have ever 
seen in the Confederacy, built two years ago, and evacuated 
by the rebels. The Division advanced to the Savannah and 
Charleston railroad, and encamped at the station, to await 
the arrival and concentration of the army, when a rapid 

movement will be made upon . In this movement 

General Leggett handled his Division with great efficiency. 
Thus one Division of two Brigades, advanced from Port 



S28 HISTORY OP THE 

Royal and took possession of this railroad, which other 
Generals with probably five times the force, made seven 
attempts and as often failed, General Foster included. 

The Seventy-Eighth Eegiment is in good health, and 
never stood higher in efficiency and military reputation. 
Surgeon's call is thinly attended. There has been four 
deaths since leaving Atlanta, added to which list is the name 
of David Willis. 

Our new line officers promoted from Sergeants, are prov- 
ing themselves fully competent for their new position. 

The day of retribution has now come to South Carolina- 
She is now and will in a few days receive a raking, and a 
sweeping scourge will pass over her that is frightful to con- 
template. 

The Seventeenth Corps left Pocotaligo on January SOth, 
and met with no opposition until reaching Saltkihatchie 
river, where the enemy had an impregnable position and 
defended by heavy works. ^Nearly all rivers here are inac- 
cessible, and can only be approached by a series of bridges 
and corduroy roads, probably a mile before we can reach 
the main stream ; at the above river the men waded into 
these swamps and back water, and skirmished with the 
enemy. One Division crossed between the works and 
flanked them, while another Division charged in front. 
Here quite a number of prisoners were taken. In this fight 
the Second Brigade, under Colonel Wiles, engaged the 
enemy upon its right flank, and that night encamped at the 
fires the rebels had built near Barker's mill. ISText day the 
Brigade moved to the enemy's left flank, while the First 
Division engaged the front, the Fourth crossed the river. 

The next place of any consequence was the Edisto river. 
The Second Brigade of the Third Division being in front, 
engaged the enemy's works across the river. Here one of 
Company K, Seventy-Eighth Ohio, was severely wounded. 
Next morning the Third Division moved down the river 
one mile and a half from Orangeburg, crossed the river, the 
main stream, on pontoons, and waded a swamp three hua* 



SEVEXTY-EIGHTn REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 329 

dred yards wide, and from tliree to five deep. The enemy 
ascertaining that \vc were crossing, Hed. Captain lioberts, 
with his forag'crs, was the first to cross, and skirniislicd with 
one whole cavahy regiment, driving them rapidly before 
liim. Orangebnrg was a beantiful town of a])out two 
thousand five hundred inhal)itants, but tlie effect of war 
here marred its beauty and laid its iine mansions in ashes. 
Here is located the Charleston Orplian Asylum, removed 
from that city at the commencement of the bombardment. 
Early in the morning I with several paid a visit to the insti- 
tutions ; we entered the dining room wliere were about two 
hundred and ninety cliildren seated around tables eating 
breakfast, which was chiefly mush and molasses. All were 
dressed clean and neat. We remained until school opened, 
which was under the care of Miss A. Iv. Irwin, a most esti- 
mable and Christian lady from iS'ew York, who was the first 
to establish a union school system in the State. She ha* 
eight assistants. 

The opening exercises were impressive and very interest- 
ing. I have never seen a finer exhibition of discipline, nor 
better music and singing. I noticed the tears start in the 
eyes of some soldiers present. What a contrast this sweet 
and beautiful scene Avith the terrible realities of war and its 
Bad results, an exhibition of which could be seen from every 
window of the Asylum. At that moment fine houses were 
wrapped in flames; on the streets were to be seen little 
children gathered around a few coals of fire left by some 
Boldiers ; also women and fine looking young ladies sitting 
weeping and guarding a few things saved from their burn- 
ing houses, and where to direct their steps for a temporary 
resting place they knew not, and not a morsel of food could 
be obtained this side of thirty miles on either extreme. 

The railroad was destroyed and all other means of trans- 
portation removed by our army. These poor saddened 
hearts, we could do little for them to lift the burden of 
Borrow now pressing so heavily upon them, but bid them 
look up to Him who was a, refuge in timo of trouble, and 



330 EISTOllY OF THE 

whose ears were open to the cries of the needy. That 
morning the Corps moved on toward Cohinibia, destroying 
tlio raih'oad on its way. All nnoccnpied buildings were 
burnt ; many fine mansions, the abodes of wealth, grandeur 
and happiness, were deserted by their occupants, and stood 
lonely, inviting the hand of some plundering soldier to 
apply the torch, 

On the IGth tlie Corps encamped on the bank of the 
(^ongarec, oppos'te Columbia, which gave rise to heavy 
skirmishing. They left all their heavy works on this side 
of the river. The city presented a beautiful appearance. 
The next day the rebels evacuated the place, having burned 
all the bridges. That afternoon and night the Fifteenth 
and Seventeenth Corps crossed and occupied the city. 
There was concentrated much of the wealth of the State; 
the stores and much of the costly furniture of Charleston 
were brought hero for security. The people conducted 
themselves with becoming demeanor, and treated the sol- 
diers with much courtesy and respect; but very impru- 
dently, yet meant in kindness, set out their wines and 
liquors to them. 

The citizens little thought their beautiful city would next 
morning be a mass of smoking ruins. There were many 
things conspiring for the destruction of the city. In the 
afternoon a furious storm of wind arose and blew continu- 
ously with the violence of a hurricane till late at night. 
All the encampments caught fire and drove the men from 
the woods. The rebels put fire to cotton and to their com- 
missary, which soon communicated the flames to adjacent 
buildings. Soon others were set on fire, the wind carrying 
the flames with unconquerable rapidity. Escaped prisoners 
and drunken soldiers soon began to apply the torch all over 
the city, and by midnight it was an ocean of flames. Six 
regiments were quickly sent to aid the citizens and guard 
©very house, and soldiers from all regiments worked faith- 
fully in rescuing people from burning houses and carrying 
iho sick to safe places. 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 33 L 

One of the Sovcntj-Eig-hth entered a burning l)uikling, 
and carried in his arms a considerable distance a woman, 
and V/'ith lier a chikl three days okL Many such incidents 
occurred. One poor mother, in her confusion and terrc)r, 
forgot her cliikh'cn, who were asleep up stairs. The ih'e 
spread so rapidly that almost immediatclj all entrance was 
cut off. The frantic mother called to her children from the 
street, and the screams of the children and calls to mother 
could be distinctly heard. In a few minutes tlie flames, in 
their mad rage, seemed to draw the Imilding from its foun- 
dation, and it was consumed with almost the rapidity of an 
explosion; here and there could be seen persons jumping from 
the second stories. The faithfulness of the guard saved many 
from perishing. We have heard of the sacking and burn- 
ing of cities, but to be a spectator to it beggars all descrip- 
tion. It is grand, sublime and terrible. The next morning 
when riding through the ruins of the city, all was quiet and 
still as death ; broken furniture and charred fragments 
covered the gtreete, and burnt walls stood black, shattered 
and lonely. I could not restrain the dropping tear of pain 
and regret. In the parks and in the suburbs of the city, 
women were sitting and guarding a few things saved and 
carried there by the arm of some kind hearted soldier. 
Major Mills, of the Seventy-Eighth, carried upon his horse 
women and children outside the burning part of the city, 
until nearly morning. 

The next day soldiers seemed not cheerful ; their hearts 
went back in sympathy with the suffering people. All 
condemned and regretted the city had been burnt, but 
whom to blame they scarcely knew. It was burnt in a 
mysterious manner. Some how it was burnt, none could 
tell, and no one intended or thought of such a thing the 
evening before. Thus the city where the first ordinance of 
secession was passed has received a retribution severe, if not 
righteous: terrible, if not just. 

The Corps moved on the next morning, destroying the 
railroad, and arrived at Winnsboro, February 22d. The 
other column, the left wing, arrived at the place the previous 



83'2 HISTORY OF TUB 

evening. The town is sitnated in a beautiful, rich country, 
nnd is the home of weaUhy phmters and South Carolina 
bloods, a peo[>le in this State at enmity with all, and in 
sympathy oidy with the nobles in Europe, hating all demo- 
cratic institutions. This town is a place of some celebrity, 
almost every house presents an imposing appearance. 
The women exhibit less timidity than in some other places ; 
they and the children were dressed in their best style, and 
some with a show of much wealth. They were free and 
bold to express their oi)inions, and advocated the most 
intense secession. Here we may observe that the women 
from Columbia northward are much better educated, more 
intelligent, and appear to have more of the sprightliness, 
activity and brightness of the iSTorthcrn girls ; their com- 
plexions are not so much affected by the low flats and 
swamps of the South. The women of the South, in gen- 
eral, have a haughtier air, a more commanding appearance 
than Northern women. The Southern lady has deeper and 
stronger feelings; the Northern more sensitive and refined, 
more timid and modest. 

The Corps halted hero but a few hours, and turned east- 
ward toward the AVateree, which they crossed on the 23d. 
The Seventy-Eighth Ohio some days was in the rear, whose 
duty it is to guard the train. This night was the most dis- 
agreeable of the campaign. The regiment stood the whole 
night upon the river bank, urider a heavy cold rain, and in 
mud from three inches to no bottom. It did not get the 
train all over until morning, having only a few minutes to 
halt and then move on with the train, the othqr Divisions 
having considerably the advance, by having good roads. 

The next morning the teams of the Third Division were 
all mud bound. Colonel Wiles stretched his Brigade along 
the road of two or three miles of teams, making new roada 
and corduroying old ones. That day the Brigade made ten 
miles of roads and brought the teams up thirteen miles. 

On the 8d of March we encamped twelve nules from 
Cheraw. It rained nearly all the time since leaving Winna- 



BEVENTT-EIGHTn REGIMENT O.V. V. I. 33S 

boro. Th€ 3d wo remained in camp, and on tiiat day tlio 
First Brigade of tlie Third Third Division liad a very 
unpleasant dnty to perform — the execution of a rchcl pris- 
oner, in retaliation for the murder of one of their foragers. 
This was done in compliance with an order from General 
iShcrman, issued to protect our foragers. The man waa 
chosen by lot, which fell upon a good old grey haired man, 
the father of nine cluldren, and a sui)Ject of the cruel 
system of c()nscri[)tion. The act was one of the terrible 
liecessities of war, but it had better not be done, and I am 
certain will fail in the object intended. 

On the 4th of March the Seventeenth Cor[)S entered 
Chcraw, on the I'cdce river, where the enemy liad made 
extensive pre])arations for a strong rosistance, but were 
driven from all their works by our skirmishei's. This Corps 
liad nine killed; and a few wounded'., luarly all of whom be- 
longed to the Twfuty-Seventh Ohio. The enemy in their 
retreat succeeded in burning the bridge. There were cap- 
tui'ed twenty-seven ])ieccs of artillery, many small arms, and 
several tons of ]K)wder. Much had been shipped from Wil- 
inington and Charleston, to this place for safety. 

The town is a i»leasant but ancient one, spread over suffi- 
cient territory for ten times the poj)ulation. There are 
many evidences of wealth in this })lace, and of tormer 
greatness, but the war is making shipwreck of all these 
once flourishing phices. 

On the same day. Captain Roberts with his foragers, cap- 
tured Society Hill, sixteen' miles from Cheraw, one of tlio 
most aristocratic and beautiful places in the State. 

On the 5tli the CorpSj taking again the advance, crossed 
the Pedee, and moved on toward Fayetteville, Nortli Car- 
olina, which place it reached Mai'ch lUh. The foragers of 
the Seventeenth Corps, as usual, entered the town several 
liours in advance, and had some considerable skirmishing 
with the enemy. Of the Third ]J)ivisiou two were killed 
and some wounded. Here some of the boys of the Sev- 
enty-Eighth had band-to-hand combats with tke enemy. 



%?A HISTORY OF TUB 

Onr foragers soon being reinforced by others coming up. 
lield the town. This town is one of the shabbiest I liave 
seen on tlie campaign. Aside from the United States 
Arsenal established years ago by Congress at this place, 
there are few important buildings in the place. The 
arsenal Avas destroyed, and all its tine buildings torn down 
by order of General Sherman. We have never before seen 
as many poor looking women in one place. They thronged 
the street in crowds, begging something to eat from our 
soldiers: they had every appearance of want and starva- 
tion. From this plaice three steamboats, captured from the 
rebels, were sent loaded with refugees and contrabands, to 
Wilmington. The army remaining here but one day, 
moved on toward Goldsboro, where the campaign will ter- 
minate. 

The enemy under General Johnston began to make lieavy 
denionstrations upon the left v/ing of the army near the 
Xeuse river, opposite Smithiield. The Army of the Ten- 
nessee changed its direction and moved up the I^ense river, 
and on the 21st met the enemy's skirmishers, which were 
driven back to their v/orks and our lines established with 
the left v^'ing. llere Ave skirmished with the enemy snc- 
cessfully, the Seventy-Eighth having two Avounded severely. 
That night the enemy evacuated his Avorks and retreated 
across the river. They had charged our lines frequentiy 
the previous evening, but in every instance were rei)ulsod 
Avith heaA-y loss. 

The army tlien moved doAvn the river and ariived at 
Goldsboro on the 2411]. 

Thus one of the most stupendous and arduous, and dam- 
aging campaigns of the war ended. Tiie Sevcnty-Eiglith 
Kegiment traveled in all five hundred and three miles. Tho 
rains, the n.iud, the enemy and the many rivers crossed did 
not impede the army's march a day. The regiment nnder 
the efficient energy and activity of Captain C. M. Eolerlrf 
liad abundance of provision. The regiment sat down tc» a 
eumptuous supper every night. !N"early one half the mea 



SEVENTT-EIGnTII REGIMENT 0. V, V. I. 885 

were witliout shoes the last few days of the campaign, and 
as many were dressed m rebel clothing. Our foragers tak- 
ing advantage of this, tried the pluck of some of General 
Terry's men who had marched through from "Wilmington. 
Two boys captured a picket post of five, and again captured 
two ordeulies of General Terry's headquarters and paroled 
them. I cannot stay to give your readers a recital of the 
many laughable events of the campaign, and especially on 
the part of the foragers. 

The total casualties of the Seventy-Eighth from the time 
it left Pocotaligo to the 24th, are thirteen. Company A, 
Milton Turner and Reese Getwood, Avouuded ; James Gawd, 
missing. Company B, John T. Moore, killed while forag- 
ing; A. J. Mills, taken prisoner. Company C, Levi Gould, 
taken prisoner. Company D, George 0. Wattcrbcrry, died 
of disease. Company II, Jeremiah McBride, died of dis- 
ease. Company K, T. II. Thompson, killed by lightning; 
Washington Bruce, Josliua Dyer and Joel Ward, severely 
wounded. 

Colonel J. C. RobinGon and Major ]Miils have led the reg- 
iment with good acceptance and general satisfaction. The 7 
liave proved themselves efficient officers and commanders. 
Under their command the regiment has won honors, and 
waded streams, swamps and mud, by night and dav, some- 
times marching the whole night through a pouring- rain 
without a murmur. 

All the officers have done nobly. They were always first 
to plunge into the water, and lead in all places of discour- 
agements and difficulties. Yours respectfully, 

"^T. M. S. 
Chaplain Seventy-Eighth Rogiincnt O. Y. Y. I. 

At Goldsboro, April Hth, Lieutenant Colonel G. I). 
]S[unson took command of the regiment, and JMajor I. C. 
lvol)inson, who had commanded the regiment v.'itli so much 
ability and acceptance, from Savannah to this point, was 
appointed Inspector on General Leggctt's staff. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Munson soon became very popular with both men 



236 UISTORY UP TnB 

and officers, and rose to the reputation which his military- 
experience and kuowled^^e well merited. 

General Scott, April 5th, returned from the North and 
took command of the Second Brigade. General Wiles and 
Adjutant Search went home on leave of ahsence. Lieuten- 
ants Story and McDonald resigned and also left the regi- 
ment ; both had long served upon General Scott's stall'. 
The former had served from the beginning of the war as a 
Lieutenant, and declined his promotion to Captain. The 
latter was compelled, through ill health, to quit the service. 

As an expression of the warm attachment l)etv,'cen Gen- 
eral Wiles aiul the Chaplain, we insert the following noto 
sent the latter on the morning he left: 

"Headquarters Second Brigade, Third Division, ) 
SEVENTKENxn AiiMY CoRPS, April 5, 1865. / 

Dear Chaplain : 

I met the oflicers of the rcgimci^t Inst evening, and I 
remember you were not present. I wish to say good-by to 
you, and to express to you my gratitude for your friendship 
and excellent support. 

May God bless you, and have you in his keeping, and 
give you health to perform your duties as Chaplain, and 
may he make your labors acceptable and fruitful, is the 
earnest prayer of your friend. 

G. F. Wiles, Colonel". 

On the 10th of April the regiment bid farewell to Golds- 
boro, and set out in pursuit of Johnston and his fleeing 
army. We arrived at Baleigh on the loth, meeting no 
opposition. Johnston had gone farther west. Here a\o 
lieard the sad news of the assassination of IVesident Lin- 
coln. The news of General Lee's surrender a few days i)re- 
vious had made the army wild with joy. AVe were then 
ivjoicing over the news of Johnston's surrender to General 
Sherman, which was a source of additional joj'. Closely 
follows this the sad news of the murder of the l^resident, 
which caused a deep feeling of pain and sorrow. So intcnso 
was this feeling that scarcely a v.ord was spoken. The 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH RECilMENT 0. V. V. I. 387 

cam OS wore linshcd to tlio utmost stillness, each fcarini: to 
speak or impart the news to his fellow. In a short time 
tiiG silent murmur of revenge was wliispered from right to 
left of tlie whole armj', and soon reached the ears of com- 
manding officers. (Quietly a strong line of guards was 
thrown around evei'v encampment, which ivas all that saved 
the city of ]\aleigh from annihilation or a sudden transition 
to ashes. 

After maneuvering nl)out Raleigh in proximity to 
Johnston's army during the conditions of surrendci-, the 
regiment left for Richmond, A'irginia, April 'JOtli, but how 
different the march from any during the last four years. It 
is no longer tlirough a hostile country ; no cavalry are need- 
ed to clear the way ; no scouts are needed to spy out tin- 
position of tlie enemy and to watcli the secret movements 
of guerrillas; no [»lundering tlic inhabitants, and making a 
desolation of the country through which we pass; all is 
good feeling, that the war has ended, and ended in triumph 
to ou.r arms; tlie country is saved; liberty and humanity 
vindicated, and the right victorious. 

The whole army of General Sherman marched across the 
Xeuse river and encamped u.ntil Monday morning, >\ hen 
all broke camp and started on a race for Richmond, 'flic 
contest between the ditferent C^;)rp^ daily grew exciting- and 
more determined, and the men entered into it with j'r.-olu- 
tion and energy. 

The second day's march the Tar ri\'er was crossc<l, and 
the army encamped u[)(Ui its banks. Here tlie Seventy- 
Eighth regiment had a most estimable and worth\- man 
(h-owned, private Levi ITarnley, of Company ]\, while halli- 
ing in the river. This providence cast a heavy glocuu o\er 
the regiment. His compardons labored nearly all the night 
and the next morning to recover his r<'mains, but '.vithout 
success. 

So close was the contest between the Fifteenth arvl i-'ev- 
enteor.th Corps, that General J>lairaiul (Jeneral Logan, with 



338 niSTORY OF the 

their staffs and pioneers arrived at the Roanoke river witliin 
one or two minutes of each other. Both Corps were com- 
pelled by the breadth of the stream to combine their pon- 
toons and cross at the same point. General Logan had 
sent forward his pioneers to occupy the landing, and thus 
claimed the right to cross first. The Seventeenth Corps 
had to remain there until the next day, waiting the coming 
up and crossing of the Fifteenth Corps. The Seventeenth 
Corps were all up and in camp before ,the Fifteenth had 
reached the river. This Corps crossing first gave them a 
day in advance, which was considerable of an advantage. 

yid arrived at Manchester, on tlie south side of the 
James, opposite liichmond, on the 9th of May, making 
about twenty-five miles per day. The country south of 
I'etersburg and toward Richmond is the garden of the 
South. The peculiar Southern appearance of both country 
and people disappear ; all look more Kortliern-like and 
more familiar. 

On the 12th the tirmy left camp near Richmond and 
started for ^Vashington City. The march was a pleasant 
one, and the country beautiful ; and those stifl' and sore 
from the forced march to Richmoiid rapidly regained their 
elasticity. All the way was made interesting by the marks 
of war, fields of battle, and encampments of the Eastern 
army. We had lieard much about the desolations of Vir- 
ginia, but were surprised to see them so trifling compared 
with Atlanta, and the country through which the AVcstern 
^Tmy had passed its heavy campaigns. The works about 
Richmond were much inferior in every respect to those 
j^l)Out Atlanta, and the desolations from F'etcrsburg to 
AVashington will bear no comparison with the desolations 
from Cliattanooga to Atlanta. 

On the 2.0tli we arrived at Alexandria, vrhere General 
"Wiles and other officers absent on leave rejoined the regi- 
ipfCnt. On the 23d we camped near the Long Bridge across 
^hc ]t*fttomuc. From our camp the cajntal and the sur- 



SE'STINTT-EiaHTH REGIMENT O.V. V. I. 339^ 

rounding country presented an indescribably grand appear- 
ance. , 

On the 24th we marclied into the city and passed in 
review before all the great ones of the nation. The multi- 
tude of people surpassed anything we had ever before seen. 
The review was quite a contest between the Eastern and 
Western armies. The former surpassed the latter in appear- 
ance, but the latter (General Sherman's array) surpassed the 
Eastern in marching, in soldierly bearing, and military dis- 
cipline. Their free, easy motion, without a break or dis- 
parity in any particular, was in wonderful contrast with the 
Eastern army. It was conceded by all to be far superior in 
everything pertaining to a soldier. Here we remained 
encamped north of the city until June 6th, at which time 
a part of the regiment was mustered out, the veterans and 
a few others remaining. 

The Third Division, commanded by General Leggett, had 
obtained so high a reputation, as being the best of General 
JSiierman's army, doing the best marching and making the' 
best appearance as soldiers, that many visited its encamp- 
ment. The Second Brigade excelled the First in every 
(|iiality, and of its regiments the Seventy-Eighth was in 
nothing second best. The Christian Commission will bear 
testimony that in all their visits to regiments none more 
cordially received them or made them feel more at home 
than the Seventy-Eighth Ohio. 

June 6th we received orders to repert at Louisville, Ken- 
tacky. The trip was made by railroad to Parkersburg, 
thence by boat. The first part of the journey was made 
interesting by the magnificent scenery of the mountains 
over which we passed, and those rising in solemn majesty 
in the distance ; fiir to our left pile upon pile of mountains 
rose in the distant horizon. The whole journey was made 
still more interesting by the greetings of the people, especi- 
ally the ladies who thronged every depot, and scores of 
old women, little boys and girls, loaded with baskets of 
pies and cakes. 



g40 HISTORY OF THE 

As "we passed down tlie Ohio river a most noticeable fea- 
ture was the difference of the two shores. Those npon the 
Ohio side seemed all life and energy. The ladies tossed and 
waved their handkerchiefs with a life and energy that 
indicated earnestness, welcome and joy. Those npon the 
Kentucky side seemed to be generally away from home. 
Some would stand in their doors in sullen indifference. 
They probably felt that they had lost their dear rights, and 
were not likely soon to recover them. They loo/.ed as the 
Southern Confederacy /(/^ — " caved in."' 

"We arrived at Louisville the morning of the 11th, and 
marched about four miles south-west and encamped. The 
next day changed camp, but tlie position being a swamp 
we again moved to the south-east of the city, where wi- 
found a beautiful, healthy locality. ^Ve all tried to think 
we were in a loyal State, for Kentucky was blowing her 
horn as loud as the most loyal State in the Sorth. Aristo- 
crat and 2)lcbian, '■'■stay at home.'' and returned rebel soldier, 
as full yet of rebellion as " hell of brimstone,'"' all going in 
on the spread eisgle style for the " Constitution and the 
laws," claiming for themselves as much of the new glory 
that crowns the Fourth as if they had battled for the Gov- 
ernment instead of against it — for tlie Constitn.tion and 
the laws instead of against them. They fought hard, no 
matter on which side, for or ogainst, the glory is all the 
same : they were neutral. 

Yes, ye gods! look down and be amazed at Ihe patiiot- 
ism of us Kentuckians ! Old Smith comes down from the 
riilters, after his wile ha.s repeatedly assured him that the- 
bear is dead. See him now, as he spreads himself among 
his neighbors, and tells them how '' me and Sally killed the 
bear!" Who would not honor the self-sacrificing old hero 
for taking such high ground, such a safe position during 
the petty contlict of " our erring brethren T Trno, lie 
would much rather the bear had killed Sally, but now that 
the beast is dead and his own precious carcass is safe, (luy/u!- 
cscai (u pace,) we should all rejoice in cur ccnimcn \ictorv 1"' 



SEVENTY-EiailTII REGIMENT 0. V. V. L §41 

This State has suffered but little. If she had been run 
over like South Carolina she would have been infinitely 
more lojal than she is. She is much like a perverse family 
out West that could never be induced to attend church. 
They were rich and prosperous in worldly things. The old 
preacher had been very kind to them, but they only grew 
more wicked and more insulting to both God and man. One 
day a rattlesnake bit one of the boys and he thought he 
must die. At once they sent for the preacher. He came. 
They wanted him to pray for the dying boy, and he began : 
'' We thank thee, Lord, for rattlesnakes. We thank thee, 
that in thy adorable providence thou hast sent one to bite 
John ! And we do beseech thee to send one of them to bite 
the old man and the rest of the family, for nothing but rat- 
tlesnakes will bring them to repentance!" 

Such a prayer would be very appropriate for Kentucky. 
She needs rattlesnakes — she needs to siiifer that she may 
Ivuow the value of a good government. 

When at Louisville much discontent and open complaint 
prevailed among the troops, that they were longer held 
in the service after the war had ended. In some regiments 
the conduct became almost mutinous. The Seventy-Eighth 
became tainted with the 'same contagious spirit, but in a 
mild form, compared with others. 

General Leggett issued an address to his command, that 
caused the fever to abate. We give the address below: 

" Headquarters Third Division, Seventeenth A. C.,\ 
Xear Louisville, Ky., June 17, 1865. / 

Soldiers of the Third Division : 

During the last four years you have displayed your valor 
and patriotism on scores of battle-fields. Scores of times 
have you met the enemies of our Government in deadly 
conflict, and always proved victorious. You never suffered 
your lines to be broken. You never attacked a position, 
held by the enemy which you failed to take. You were 
uc vev driven from a position which you attempted to bold. 



342 HISTORY OF THE 

When the history of the bloody battles and arduous 
campaigns in which yon have been engaged shall be truth- 
fully written, it will be said of the Old Third Division ; 
'It never knew defeat. It was never late in battle, and 
never early out. It never turned its back to the enemy. 
It always responded to the order ' forward ' with a cheer, 
and moved without regard to the obstacles or force in its 
front, and stopped only when its own commanders sounded 
the 'halt.' 

Of your name and record you justly feel proud. Sol- 
diers guard well that name ! Do not suiter any feeling of 
disappointment or discontent to lead you to tarnish that 
proud record, which, up to this day, is without a blot. 

When we left North Carolina, our visions of home with 
its comforts and endearments were strong, and we all 
hoped, ere this, to have been there. But the Government 
determined that it would be imprudent to so soon disband 
us. Every inch of territory lately in rebellion is still under 
martial law, and while martial law prevails the war is not 
at an end, though active warfare may have ceased. Until 
reorganization takes place, and civil tribunals are ready to 
assume the control now exercised by the military authority, 
soldiers will be needed, and we may justly and legally be 
held in the service, and have no just right to complain. 

It is the expressed desiie of the Government to reduce 
its expenses as much and as rapidly as possible, and we 
may rely upon being mustered out of the service at the 
earliest moment deemed prudent by the authorities at 
Washington. 

In the meantime a liberal percentage of the men will be 
permitted to visit their homes on furlough, and the usual 
discipline must be maintained in camp. 

As to our further movements, or when we may expect to 
be mustered out of the service, j^ou know all that your 
commander knows, and you ought to expect no more. But 
while held in the service, let us do our duties like men and 
soldiers, that when discharged we may bear to our homes 



SEVENTY-EIGIITH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 343 

and to our frietids, names of which tlioy always may foci 
proud. M. ]). Leggett, 

Brevet Major-General Commanding." 

In duly tlie Th.ird Division was ordered to be muKtercd 
out. The rolls were soon completed, and the Seventy-Eighth 
Btartod for Columbus among the iirst, v.-here it arrived on 
the evening of the 1-lth, when it was paid otr'and disbanded. 
Each soldier, now a citizen, started for his home, feeling 
grateful to a kind and merciful Providence for protecting 
Inni through four years of bloody war, and permitting him 
to return home to his f;uni!y and fjicnds. 

The parting ot the Sixty-Eighth, Twentieth and Seventy- 
Eighth Oliio, was like the breaking up of a family. From 
the beginning of tlie war thc}^ had served together, and had 
been successful in every engagement, and never once gave 
way or retreated before the enemy. All >vere conscious Oi 
the fact that no other Brigade in the army had a prouder 
or more honorable record. 

Tlic foUovring letter from General Leg-rott to the officers 
and soldiers of the Seventy-Eighth Ohio on the ex})iration 
of their original term of sci'viee, I take the liberty to in.sert: 

•'Headquarters Tjjtud Divi.^iox, SEvrxTEEivTH A. C, 1 
Near Beauiokt, S. C, January 10, 1865. / 

7^ot!ic Offin'ys and Men of the Secc.iifii-Ei(jhtJi 0. V. V. Infantry: 
Fellow Sol.di:;rs : — To-d:iy emls the original term of 
'* throe years" for which the Seventy-Eighth Ohio Volunteer 
Infantry oiitered tlie service of the United States. 

At the beginning of this term, few tlionght our services 
Vvonld be so long required. Then Ave enlisted for "three 
years" or "during the war;"' we believed that "during 
tlie war" would bo a shorter te^m than " tliree years." 
AV'e failed then to correctly estinuite the number an.d wick- 
etlncss of those Ijandod together to destroy our general gov- 
ernment, and disgrace our national flag. Xcither did we 
know then the strength of our atfection for that iiag, nor 
the depth of our love for that government. Three years of 
the most arduous and exposed service, has increased our 



044 HISTORY UF THE 

devotion to our couutiT, and greatly deepened our Latred 
of its foe. 

The history of the regiment has l^een one of Avhieli we 
are all proud. Thank God and the lu'a\'e men of the Sev- 
enty-Eighth, there is not a page ov a paragrapli of tliat 
liistory that need ever eause tlie ])lush of shame to ticgo 
our cheeks, or tliose of our eliildren after us. 

During the "three years" the regiment has never been 
the subject of censure, but has often been commended and 
praised, in orders and reports, for its gullantry in ])attle, its 
thorough disciphnc, its soklierly con(hiet in camp arid on tlio 
march, and for its proficiency in drill. 

The iSevonty-Eightli has never gone into summer or 
^vinter quarters. Its entire term lias been one of exti-emo 
exposure and arduous service. Its history may truly be 
said to have been vritten in sweat and blood. At l)or;eI- 
son, Burnt IJridge, Sliiloh, Siege of Corinth, Bolivar, luka, 
Thompson's Hill, Baymond, Jackson, Champion Ililh, 
Siege of Vicksburg, Boguechitta, Baker's Creek, Ciintoi', 
Kenesaw ^Mountain, Atlanta, Joncsboro, Lovejoy, Siege of 
Savannah, and in almost numberless aflairs and skirmidies 
of less importance, the regiment ]);ts left its mark in blood, 
and by its determined bravery shown its invincible char- 
acter. 

In the campaigns to luka, to V^ater Valley, in the re;-.r 
of Vicksburg, and the expedition of the Yazoo v.-dley. 
lioguechitta Creek, through Loui^i;ina, the great Meridian 
raid, tlie march through Kortliern Alabama, tlic Atlanta 
campaign, the pursuit of Hood in the rear of Atlanta, and 
the great expedition through Georgia to Savannah, it has 
displayed its high state of discipline, its marching qualities, 
and the patriotic willingness of its otiiecrs and men to 
imdergo the greatest deprivations, and to subject themselves 
to the most extreme fatigue and ex[)Osure, when the exi- 
gencies of the service demanded. 

Since entering the service the regiment has marched 
three thousand two hundred and eiii-hty-nine miles: been 



SEVEXTY-EiailTn REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. oA't 

transported on steamboats two tliousaTid two liundrcd and 
fourteen miles; and on railroad one thousand six hundred 
and niiK'ty-ninc miles, making* the avIioIo distance traveled 
during- the three years, se\'eu thousand two hundi'ed and 

two miles. 

Two hundred and ninety-foui' of your number have given 
tln'ir lives a willing saerirtce upon tlieir country's altar. Of 
tliis number eighty-one were killed in action. Unshrouded 
and uncoilined their hallowed remains are sanctifying the 
rebellious hills and valleys of JMississippi, Louisiana, Ten- 
nessee, Kentucky, AUil>ama and Cireorgia. The recollections 
or' these brave irten who have so nobly fallen Avill ever bo 
i'resh iu the memory of their comrades. Let us emulate 
their noble deeds. L'atriotic braves can ask no better time 
to die than while raishig their arm in .defense of the best 
( Government that God ever gave to man. Two hundrecl 
and seven have been wounded in action, many of whom 
juust l)e crip|>les for life. They must have our v\-armest 
syni|iathy, and, when needed, our active aid. 

Five liundred and eight_y-nine have lost their health in 
the ser\'ice, and have been discharged before t'le expiration 
of tlieir term. Twenty-seven arc reported as missing in 
action. Thirtj'-one have been transferred to the Invalid 
Corps, and seventeen are reported deserters, making the 
t;)tal loss of the regiment eiglit hundred rnd eighty-five 
men. ^^e entered the service with nine hundred and fcu-ty 
men. 

LMiring your three years' term your regiment has, except- 
ing a short time, constituted the whole or a part of my 
command. The ready obedience it has always yielded to 
my orders, and the friendly, generous and cheerful spirit its 
ofhcers and men have given me in the discharge of my 
otlieial duties, have won my lasting and Avarmest gratitudi . 

J n the honor and welfare of the regiment I have always 
felt, and shall always feel, the deepest solicitude. When- 
ever the regiment has honoi'cd itself, I have telt honored ; 
and had it ever disgraced itself. I should have felt mvself 



346 HISTORY OF TEE 

disgraced. Let its future be what its past has been, and it 
will always be the pride of ray life, that I was the first 
Colonel of the Seventy-Eighth Ohio. 

Those whose health and circumstances at home precluded 
them from becoming veterans, close their term of service 
with us to-day. In bidding farewell to those of your com- 
mand who now leave you, give them the assurance that the 
reputation of the " Old Seventy-Eighth," so dearly won, 
shall bo fully sustained in its veteran organization — that 
the remaining pages of its history slnill be equally glorioue 
with those already written. 

Your friend and former Colonel, 

[Signed,] isF. I). Legoett, 

V) r ! gad i er- G eiie in 1 . " 

GENERAL Logan's farewell to the army of tue tenkessek. 

Headquarters Army of the Tennessee, \ 
Louisville, Ky., July 18, IBGo. j 

Officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Tennessee: 

The profound gratiticatiou I feel in being authorized to 
release you from the onerous obligations of the camp, and 
return yon, laden with laurels, to homos Avhere warm hearts 
wait to welcome you, is somewhat embittered by the painful 
redection that I am sundering the tics that trials have made 
true, time made tender, suiiering m.ade sacred, perils made 
proud, heroism made honoraljle, and fame nuule forever 
fearless of tlie future. It is no common occasion that 
denninds the disbandment of a military organization, before 
the resistless power of whieli mountains bristling Vv'ith 
biiyonets have bowed, cities h;ive surrendered, and millions 
<.)f brave men been conquered. Although I have been but 
for a short period your commander, Ave are n( t stran.gcrs ; 
aifections have spruiig up between us during the long years 
of doubt, gloom and carnage, which we have passed through 
together, nurtured by common perils, sufferings and sacri- 
fices, and riveted by the memories of gallant comrades, 
whose bones repose beneath the sod of an hundred battu- 
fields, nor time nor distance will weaken or ellace. The 



SEVENTT-EIGHTH REGIMENT 0. V. V. I. 347 

many marches you have made, the dangers you have des- 
pised, the haughtiness you have humbled, the duties you 
have discharged, the glory you have gained, the destiny 
you have discovered for the countiy in whose cause you 
have conquered, all recur at this moment in all the vivid- 
ness that marked the scenes through which we have ju.-t 
passed. From the pens of the ablest historians of the land, 
daily are drifting out upon the current of time, page upon 
page, volume upon volume of your heroic deeds, and iloat- 
ing down to future generations will inspire the student of 
history with admiration, the patriot American with venera- 
tion for his ancestors, and the lover of republican liberty 
with gratitude for those who, in a fresh baptism of bloo(.}, 
reconsecrated the powers and energies of the Eepubllc to 
the cause of constitutional freedom. Long may it be the 
happy fortune of each and every one of you to live in the 
full fruition of the boundless blessings you have secured to 
the human race. Only he whose heart lias been thrilled 
with admiration for your impetuous and unyielding valor 
in the thickest of the fight, can appreciate with what pride 
I recount the brilliant achievements which immortalize 
you, and enrich the pages of our national histor^^ Passing 
by the earlier, but not less signal triumphs of the war, in 
which most of you participated, and inscribed upon yor.r 
banners such victories as Donelson and Shiloli, 1 roeiir to 
campaigns, sieges and victories that challenge the admira- 
tion of the world, and elicit tlie unwilling applause of all 
Europe. Turning your backs upon the blood-bathed bights 
of Vicksburg, you launched into a region swarming with 
enemies, lighting your way, and marching without adequate 
supplies, to answer the cry for succor that came to you 
from the noble but beleagured army at Chattanooga. Your 
steel next flashed among the mountains of the Tennessee, 
and your weary limbs found rest before the embattled 
bights of Mission Ridge, and there, Avitli dauntless cour- 
age, you breasted again the enemy's destructive lire, and 
shared with your comrades of the Army of the Cumber- 



348 HISTORY OF THE 

Jiind the glories of a victory, than wliieh no soldiery can 
boast a prouder. 

In that unexampled campaign of vigilant and vigorous 
^varlare from Chattanooga to Atlanta, you freshened your 
laurels at Resaca, grappling -with the enemy behind his 
works, hurling him back dismayed and broken, rursniiig 
him from thence, marking your path by graves of fallen 
comrades, you again triumphed over superior numbers at 
J)a.llas, fighting your way from thereto Kenesaw Moun- 
liiin, and under the murderous artillery that frowned from 
its nigged bights, with a tenacity and constancy that finds 
lew parallels, you labored, fought and suft'ered through the 
broiling rays of a Southern midsummer sun, until at last 
you planted your colors upon its topmost bights. Again 
(-n the 22d of July, 1864, rendered memorable through all 
lime for the terrible struggle you so heroically maintained 
under discouraging dis'-isters, and that saddest of all reflec- 
tions, the loss of that exemplary soldier and popular leader, 
the lamented McPherson, your matchless courage turned 
defeat into a glorious victory. Ezra Chapel and Jonesboro 
added new luster to a radiant record, the latter unbarring 
to you the proud Gate City of the South. The daring of a 
desperate foe,- in thrusting his legions northward, exposed 
the country in your front, and though rivers, swamps and 
enemies opposed, you boldly surmounted every obstacle, 
beat down all opposition, and marched onward to the sea. 
AVithout any act to dim the brightness of your historic 
I)age, the Vv'^orld rang plaudits when your labors and strug- 
gles culminated at Savannah, and the old " Starry Banner" 
waved once more over the walls of one of the proudest 
cities of the seabord. Scarce a breathing spell had passed 
when your colors faded from the coast, and your columns 
plunged into the swamps of the Carolinas. The sufferings 
you endured, the labors you performed, and the successes 
you achieved in those morasses, deemed impassable, form a 
creditable episode in the history of the war. Pocotaligo, 
Salkahatchie, Edisto, Branchville, Orangeburg, Columbia, 



SEVENTY-EIGHTH llECIMENT 0. V. V. I. 349 

Bentonville, Charleston and Ixaleigh are names that will 
ever he suggestive of the resistless sweep of your cohunn 
tliroTigh the territory that cradled and nurtured, and from 
whence was sent forth on its mission of crime, misery and 
])lood, the disturting and disorganizing spirit of secession 
and I'ebcUion. 

The work for which you pledged your l)ravc hearts and 
brawny arms to the Government of your fathers, you have 
nobly performed. You arc seen in the past gathering 
through the gloom that enveloped the land, rallying as tlie 
guardian of man's proudest heritage, forgetting the thread 
unwoven in the loom, quitting the anvil and abandoning 
the workshops, to vindicate the supremacy of the laws and 
the authority of the Constitution. Foui- years have you 
struggled in the bloodiest and most destructive war tliat 
ever drenched the earth with liuman gore; step bv ste}> vnu 
have borne our standar<l, nntil to day, over every fortres<^ 
and arsenal that rebellion wrenclied from us, and over citv, 
town and hamlet, from the lakes to the Gulf, and from 
ocean to ocean, proudly floats the "starry emblem" of our 
national unity and strength. 

Your rewards, my comrades, are the welcoming plaudits 
of a grateful people, the consciousness that in saving the 
republic, you have Avon for your country renewed respect 
aiul power at home and abroad, that in the unexam[)led era 
of growth and prosperity that dawns with peace, there 
attached mightier wealth of pride and glory than (>ver 
hefore to that loved boast, "I am an American citizen." 

In relinquishing the implements of war for those of 
peace, let your conduct ever be that of warriors in time of 
war, and peaceful citizens in time of peace. Let not th& 
luster of that bright name that you have won as soldiers, be 
dimmed by any im[)ropcr act as citizens, but as time rolLs 
on let your record grow brigliter and brighter still. 

Juii:v A. LoiLVN, Major-Gcneral. 



INDEX. 



Pa02. 

OrrranlzitioB of the Regiment, - 9 

Secoud Brigade, . . . • 13 

Tweutieth Oliio Veteran Volunteers, 14 

Mnth Illinois Mounied Infantry, - 15 

Sixty-Eighth Ohio Veteran Volunteers, 18 
Seventeenth Wisconsin Vet. Volunteers, '2U 

COMPANT AND NO.V-COMMISSIOXKD OFFI- 
CERS AND EXLISTKD Me.V. 

Company A, - - - "• 

» B, . . - - 32 

" C, - - - - - 42 

'■ r., 49 

.. K, 56 

« V, 63 

u G.' - - - - - 70 

" K, TO 

». J, 83 

a k', ----- 90 
Cflnin)is8ioned k. Non-conimitBicned Staff, 95 

War Shadows, ----- IH 

Ser^t. Jasper S. Lnugblin. - - HG 

Casualties of the War, - - - 119 

Itebel Loss, 1-0 

I'lanniug Campaigns, . - - - 121 

The Mississipi, 123 

Tlie Ke;:iiuent3 lonving Ohio, - - 126 

llattle of Kort Don. l^oIl, - - - 128 

l-ieutenant-General Grant, - - 134 

Major-General Sherman, . - - 137 

The Regiment at Dover, - - - 140 

Metal Lauding, ----- 141 

Adarasville, ----- 142 

Battle of Shiloh, - - - - 143 
Second day'K Fighting — Letter from 

Sergeant Jasper S. l.aughlin, - - 146 

Siege of Corinth, - - - - ISO 

Description of the Town, - - - 152 

liebel Vandalism, . - - -. 1.35 

Anecdote of the Fight of 2Sth. - - 166 

I'owerful and Thrilling Sermon, - 156 

Priiyor by a Toxan R'lnger, - - - 157 

Bethel and Jaciis )n, Tennessee, - : 161 

(irand Junction and Lagrange, - 164 

Drs. Waddel and Grey, - - - 13 

Bolivar, Tennessee, - . - . 169 

Battles near Bolivar, - - . - 171 

General Leggett'w Oilicial Report, - 172 

Robert Hanson's Adventure, - - 178 

March to Corinth and luka, Miss., - 179 

General Lojjan, 1S4 



Jloveraent toward Central Migsifaippi, 184 

Correspondent " Typo," . - - lyo 

Water Valley, . _ . . . ]97 

Oxford and Mississippi University, - 2(i0 

Anecdote of Holly Springs, - - 20:j 

Davis' Mills, 204 

Cami). near MemphiR, , - - - 205 
The B-ittle of Memphis - - - 214 
Trip down the Mississippi, - . - 22;( 
Lake I'rovidence, - . - - 225 
Vista Plantation, - . . . 228 
Running the Blockade, - . - 23^ 
March to Bruinsburg, ... - 233 
Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Raymond, Jack- 
son and Champion Hilla, - - - 214 
Battle at Black River, - - - 235 
Rear of Vicksburg, . . - - 238 
The Killed and Wounded at Champion 

Hills. 249 

Description of the Siege, - - - 251 

Surrender of the Rebel Army and City, 253 

Total Loss of the Federal Army, - 254 

Clinton, Mississippi, . - - - 25i5 

Camp at Bovina, . - - - 2til 
CoraplimeTits of Company E to Colonel 

G.F. Wiles, ----- 2ol 
Flag presentation from the Ladies of 

Zanesvilie, ----- 214 

Monroeville, Louisiana, . - - 2:>4 

Expedition to Caiton and Jackson, Miss. 204 
General Leguiett appointed to the com- 

mand of the Third Division, - - 205 

The conlest for the Flag, - - - 205 

Names ol those who died at Vicksburg, 266 
Meridian Expedition — Letter by Major 

James S. Reeves, - . - - 207 

Veteran Furlough and March to Atlanta, 275 

Battle of the 22d of July, - - 2«0 

Captain W. W. McCarty's Imprisonment, 2^9 

Evacuation and Destruction of Atlanta, 310 

The Georgia March, . - - - 310 

Incidents, etc., ----- 31 J 

Savannah, ----- 323 

Beaufort, South Carolina, - - - S25 

Pocataligo, " '' . - - 325 

The South Carolina CampMian, - - 32* 
March trom Raleigh to Washington, D.C. 3.*17 

Thence to Louisville, Ky., - - 3'*9 
Maj. -General Legjett's Farewell Address 341 

Myj. -General Lo^an'i " " 240 



31^77-2 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing Agent: IVlagnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: 




PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 
1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Twp.. PA 16066 
(412)779-2111 



